Britain’s Danny Kent has admitted to being a little nerve-wracked on the eve of becoming our first world champion since Barry Sheene but says he feels less pressure now as he only needs a handful of points to bag the Moto3 trophy.

Kent says he started the season very strong and has maybe been thinking too much about the title instead of winning races but tempered that by saying he has managed to keep a 50-point margin. The Englishman needs just a handful of points to make it impossible for Enea Bastiani to overhaul him with just Sepang and Valencia remaining.

“In Japan, there was a chance to win the championship but we needed a lot of luck to come our way. This weekend there are a lot more possibilities for me to go out there and do it. Motivation is high so we are looking forward to it,” said Kent, speaking at Phillip Island.

“I  have never been in the position before to fight for a world championship. Of course, it’s going to be a bit nerve-wracking but after Japan, I feel I come here with less pressure on my shoulders as Bastianini has to concentrate on holding on to second. We have a great chance to leave Phillip Island as world champions.

“No one puts more pressure on me than myself and the second half of the year hasn’t been as strong as the first. But then we were taking it race by race, not thinking about the championship. Maybe I have been thinking too much about the championship and being a bit too clever.”

How Kent can lift the title at Phillip Island:

If Kent wins the race or finishes second

If Kent is third and Bastianini does not win the race

If Kent is fourth or fifth and Bastianini does not finish either first or second

If Kent is sixth and Bastianini does not finish either first or second and Oliveira does not win the race

If Kent is seventh, eighth or ninth and Bastianini does not finish on the podium and Oliveira does not win the race

If Kent is 10th or 11th and Bastianini does not finish in the top four and Oliveira does not win the race

If Kent is 12th, 13th, 14th or 15th and Bastianini does not finish more than six places ahead of him and Oliveira does not finish either first or second

If Kent fails to score any points and Bastianini does not finish in the top nine and Oliveira does not finish on the podium