Mumbai: India`s only motorcycle Grand Prix team resumes battle in France this weekend with high hopes of strong results after a top-10 start for the all-new Mahindra Grand Prix machine.
|Last Updated: May 15, 2013, 06:46 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Mumbai: India`s only motorcycle Grand Prix team resumes battle in France this weekend with high hopes of strong results after a top-10 start for the all-new Mahindra Grand Prix machine.
On track barely six months after the project was initiated, the 250cc Moto3 Mahindra MGP3O has been fast, reliable and successful from the debut in Qatar with a best-ever double top-10 finish at its first attempt.
Seventh-placed Miguel Oliveira moved up to fifth at the next round and the Portuguese teenager was fighting for fourth in Round 3 at Jerez when another rider tipped him off. Teammate Efrén Vázquez (26, from Spain) made up for it with eighth, his second top-10 of the year. Oliveira is seventh and Vázquez 10th overall in the championship standings with Mahindra currently third in constructors` points.
Directly after the race at Jerez the team went testing at the Almeria circuit in Spain.
‘The engine test was encouraging. The riders felt a definite improvement, especially at the top end where we are currently suffering a little against the opposition. Now we are currently running durability tests before bringing the new parts to the track,’ said Mahindra Racing`s CEO Mufaddal Choonia.
Round 4, the second European race, is at the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans. With no long straights and a variety of fast and slow corners, the French circuit favours riding skill and excellent cornering and braking - all areas that should also favour the new Mahindra.
Last year Vázquez and Oliveira were on the front row together, qualified second and third but atrocious conditions took their toll; Vázquez went out on the warm-up lap, and Oliveira was in a substantial lead at two-thirds distance when he slipped off.
‘I`m looking forward to this race. I like the track; last year I was leading until I fell on lap 16 - conditions were crazy wet, with so many accidents. This year, the Mahindra bike is getting better and we understand more about how to find the best setting. It`s more a track for riding than just horsepower and we have the chance of a strong result,’ said Oliveira.
Teammate Vazquez said: ‘I like Le Mans but I had bad luck there last year. I almost made pole position but then I missed the race. Wet or dry, I will be giving my 100 percent.’
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.