Mahindra Racing's Miguel Oliveira finished seventh at the Moto3 Australian Grand Prix in a typically canny ride, starting from 15th on the grid here Sunday.
The Portuguese might have done better as he picked his way through from 17th on Lap 1. Soon he was able to break free from the pack to close to within just over a second on a big leading group with every chance of catching them.
But he had company from Jakub Kornfeil and the pair's battle, exchanging places round the sweeping 4.448 km seaside Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit circuit, inevitably slowed their pace.
It was Oliveira's eighth top-10 finish of a hotly disputed season, including one third place and two fourths.
Rookie teammate Andrea Migno finished 17th, two places out of the points, and a big improvement after qualifying 26th.
With two races left in the 18-round World Championship, Oliveira is now equal on points with rival Brad Binder, also riding a Mahindra M3GPO for Ambrogio Racing, the pair disputing 10th in the championship with ninth or better well within reach.
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Today's result also reinforced a strong third place in the constructors' championship for the only Indian constructor in the series.
The next race is the Malaysian GP next weekend, followed a fortnight later by the season finale in Valencia in Spain.