Misano: Team Mahindra Racing was back on track today for the 7th and penultimate round of the 2012 CIV 125GP season at the Marco Simoncelli World Circuit in Misano. After yesterday's win by Riccardo Moretti in the first of  two races of this doubleheader round, today Miroslav Popov tasted victory on  his first week-end on the bike.

Race two  was reduced by the Race Direction to a total length  of 15 laps instead of the scheduled 18, as the high temperatures could have affected tyre performances. Popov and Moretti once again moved off  from the 2nd and 5th row of the grid, respectively.

Popov rode an amazing race and was able to battle in the leading pack and to cross the line as the first of the 125GP riders. The Czech youngster showed  incredible potential in only his second race with Mahindra. Moretti, on the other hand, didn't get a good start and couldn't fill the gap between himself and his teammate, finishing anyway with a solid third place. His only rival for the championship victory, Lorenzo Dalla Porta, scored a second position that allowed him to clinch the title with one race to go. Moretti is second in the classification, while Popov climbs up to eighth place with just two races under his belt. In the manufacturer standings, Mahindra lies in first place with 151 points ahead of Aprilia with 146 and Honda with 50. The last race of the season is scheduled for October 14th at Vallelunga.

Riccardo Moretti said, "We had a bit of bad luck in this Championship. I was able to win four races out of seven and today I ended up on the third step of the podium, but this wasn't enough to get the title. We were unlucky at Monza and especially at Mugello, when I got a faultless collision with another rider butI have no regrets as I did my best and so did the team. Today, I had some set-up issues, I tried to push at my best to get a podium finish and I did it. I want to thank Mahindra and all the team for their fantastic job."

Miroslav Popov said, “That was an amazing race! I passed so many riders and I was able to fight in a pack of six/seven riders, took some risks but I did it. The bike was so quick and helped me win a hard fought and spectacular race. A big thanks goes to the team for the help I got this weekend."

Misano World Circuit – CIV 125 GP : Race : 1) Popov (Mahindra) – 2) Dalla Porta (Aprilia)  – 3) Moretti (Mahindra) – 4)  Cappella (Aprilia) – 5) Carpi (Aprilia) – 6) Lio (KTM)

CIV 125 GP Classification: 1) Dalla Porta 146 – 2) Moretti 116 – 3) Carpi 80 – 4) Mazzola 57…….8) Popov 45 – 9) Kumar 43

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