Team Mahindra suffered their first retirement in the MotoGP championship when Efren Vazquez encountered an oil-control issue in his bike even as Miguel Oliveira fought his way to eighth place at the Indianapolis Grand Prix in the Moto 3 class on Sunday.
Portuguese teenager Oliveira, who qualified eighth, fended off a fierce two-bike attack in the closing corners to earn eight points for the side.
Spain’s Vazquez had qualified fourth and was running strongly in the group until an oil-control issue struck his Mahindra MGP3O machine, and he was forced to retire.
“We lost a good opportunity for a top-five result and some good points. If I’d been able to continue in my position to the last laps I would be seventh. I was fighting with the KTMs but then something happened and I thought it was safer to stop,” Vazquez said.
Oliveira was not content with eight-points performance.
“I am not really happy. Eighth is certainly not our place. But it was very hard — I was struggling a lot for grip from the tyres. We lose a little acceleration to the KTMs at the moment, and there are two very small first-gear corners on this track, and a long straight.
“I aimed for a safe race, try not to crash, and get some points. I just tried to defend myself and my position, and that was successful,” the 18-year-old said.