Third place in the final race of the season at Suzuka on Sunday, behind first-time winner Kakunoshin Ota and Lawson, was enough for Miyata to seal the championship.
Team Mugen’s Lawson improved his odds of snatching the title away from Miyata by scoring his first pole of the season and the three bonus points that come with it, but he was never able to wrest back the lead from Ota after dropping to second at the start.
Lawson fell eight points short of TOM’S rival Miyata in the final analysis, despite having scored more wins over the course of the year (three to Miyata’s two).
The New Zealander however suffered a non-score at Motegi, where he was involved in a first-lap crash, while Miyata was on the podium six times out of nine, never finishing a race lower than fifth.
“It’s been an amazing season,” reflected Lawson. “I always knew it would be tough coming here, I was told that by all the drivers who came here before me, like Nick Cassidy and Pierre Gasly, so I knew it would be a big challenge.
“It was obviously close at the end and it was disappointing to miss the title, but Miyata has been super-consistent. It’s something we’ve been missing.
“The speed has always been there, the results have been strong, but I think Miyata has been on the podium in almost every single race, which made it very difficult for us.”
Source: Autosport