Marc Marquez will have the first of three chances to win the 2012 Moto2 World Championship in this weekend's Malaysian round, the same event that ended his 2011 title hopes.
Marquez holds a 53-point lead over Pol Espargaro following a stunning back-to-front charge at Motegi last Sunday, after accidentally leaving his bike in neutral on the grid.
If the Suter star can finish Sunday's race with a lead of at least 50-points, the eight-time 2012 race winner will be champion. Espargaro is the only rider still in with a mathematical chance of beating Marquez.
“We have a 53-point lead but we have to manage the advantage well, because there are still three races remaining,” said Marquez, a former 125cc world champion.
“We can be champions this weekend but we face the Malaysian Grand Prix as just another race, giving 100 percent on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In the race we will analyse what we can do and where we stand.
“I do not care whether I am crowned champion in Malaysia, Australia or Valencia; the most important thing is to get the title, although it is clear that the sooner, the better.”
Marquez missed the end of last season and most of 2012 pre-season testing after suffering a heavy practice fall at Sepang, caused when marshals failed to warn of a wet section of track.
The Spanish teenager, who will graduate to
MotoGP next season, later required eye surgery to correct double vision problems.