Image: Supplied.

Australia’s Joel Kelso scored a P7 finish in the Moto3 World Championship outing at Sepang, avoiding carnage throughout the bout to secure a solid result in Malaysia.

Kelso lined up on the third row of the grid in seventh, and avoided a multi-rider crash on lap five at turn four that brought down the likes of David Alonso (GasGas Aspar Team) and Dani Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) – both title contenders.

The number 66 was back inside the top 10 after that incident, however, was separated from the front group afterwards. Nonetheless, the CFMoto Pruestel GP rider pushed on and was able to finish the 15-lap Sepang outing in seventh, just over two-tenths shy of a top-five result.

“It was a battle out there,” said Kelso. “When the crash happened I manage to avoid it and then kept a decent rhythm to the guys at the front, making up some ground. I pulled along a group with me.

“I missed a bit at the end but that can happen in the fight on the last lap. I could not capitalize but the Grand Prix was positive overall. We know our weaknesses and will work on those for Qatar.”

Just two rounds remain in the 2023 Moto3 World Championship, with the future of Kelso secured for next year as he will join the BOE Motorsports team alongside David Munoz.