Mahindra eye strong result in France
Miguel Oliveira
India’s only motorcycle grand prix team, Mahindra Racing, will resume battle in France this weekend, with high hopes of stronger results after a top-10 start for the all-new machine.
Back on track barely six months after the project was initiated, the sleek white-and-red 250cc Moto3™ Mahindra MGP3O has been fast, reliable and successful from the debut in Qatar, with a best-ever double top-ten finish at the first attempt.
Seventh-placed Miguel Oliveira moved up to the fifth place for the next round, and the Portuguese teenager fought for the fourth spot in Round three at Jerez when another rider tipped him off.
Spanish team-mate Efrén Vazquez (26) 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 lying third in the constructor points. Following the race at Jerez, the team went testing at the Almeria circuit in Spain — important for two reasons. Firstly, the riders and technicians were still learning the finer details of the new motorcycle, and two clear days allowed them to gather data and incorporate further setting refinements to the fully adjustable chassis. Secondly, they were able to test engine development parts, to be introduced in the coming races.
Both aspects were positive, said Mahindra Racing’s CEO Mufaddal Choonia.
“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,” Choonia said.
The fourth round, the second European race, will be staged at the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans: 2.6 difficult miles (4.185km).
Last year, Vázquez and Oliveira were on the front row together after qualifying second and third respectively, but atrocious conditions took their toll. Vázquez went out on the warm-up lap, while Oliveira was in a substantial lead at two-thirds distance when he slipped off.
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