New Delhi: Mahindra Racing’s Miguel Oliveira and Efrén Vázquez finished fifth and 10th respectively in the British Moto3™ Grand Prix held at a sunny Silverstone Circuit – another excellent double top ten result for the only Indian constructor in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. The 17-lap race around the fast and flowing 5.9km track saw a breakaway group of four, headed by Luis Salom, battle for the win.
Just behind them, Oliveira headed a second group of four for the full race distance after a tough and exciting battle. Having recorded the third fastest time in morning warm-up, the young Portuguese rider was ready to improve on his eighth place on the grid. Ninth after a fast and furious first lap, Oliveira steadily worked his way up to the front of the second group and then battled hard to keep repelling the persistent challenge of Jonas Folger.
On the eve of his 27th birthday, Efrén Vázquez was making his 100th Grand Prix start and was involved in a similar dice at the head of the third group of riders. From 13th on the grid, Efrén lost a place on lap one before charging through to battle at the front of the group. At the flag he just missed out on ninth place by three tenths of a second.
The excellent result came on the day that Mahindra confirmed that Ambrogio Racing will switch to racing Mahindra MGP3O bikes from the next race with their riders, German Luca Amato and South African Brad Binder. A fifth Mahindra will line up on the Misano grid in two weeks in the hands of Mahindra Racing’s wildcard; 16-year-old Italian Championship (CIV) rider, and current series leader, Andrea Locatelli.
The addition of more bikes is testament to Mahindra’s impressive progress in World Championship racing. Designed and built in just six months, the Mahindra MGP3O Moto3 prototype has proved reliable from the start and impressively competitive.
Watching the race was Mahindra’s President of Group Strategy, and Chairman of Mahindra Racing, S.P. Shukla. “I have enjoyed the weekend enormously and that is a very good result from both of our riders,” commented Mr Shukla. “I have been very impressed with the consistency of our bike, team and riders. We have been regularly challenging for top five and top ten places all season and for a young, Indian motorcycle manufacturer to be placing third in the constructors’ standings - with only two riders - is an impressive performance. Obviously this has not gone unnoticed and we are very pleased to welcome Ambrogio Racing to join Mahindra Racing’s World Championship journey.”
Miguel Oliveira said, "The start was OK, but we really need to do better in the opening laps. We have the speed and the pace to be at the front, but once the lead group had gone there was no way to make up the gap and so I just had to stay concentrated and, even though it looked like a big fight, I was quite confident and calm. Fifth place is good for us after two difficult races, but I hope that Misano can go even better. We are continuing to work hard and making progress towards the podium.”
Efren Vazquez said, "I got a bad start and lost a lot of ground and so I got involved in a fight with a slower group than where I really wanted to be. In this class it is hard to make up those gaps on your own and so I just had to keep my head down and concentrate 100% every lap to make sure we finished with some good points for the Championship. I am back up in the top ten, but I am hoping to make even more progress as the bike and team keep improving. What is really important in Misano is to qualify better so that I don’t get caught up.”
