Mumbai,
February 25, 2013: Mahindra Racing has completed its second
pre-season test for the 2013 Moto3™
World Championship in promising style. The group-test at Spain’s Jerez circuit,
venue for the third round of this year’s MotoGP season, saw the Indian team’s
two new riders complete the test with the fifth and eighth fastest times of the
33 Moto3 participants.
Three trouble-free days for Mahindra’s all-new
MGP-3O (pronounced three "o") were marred only by rain on the final
day that led to an early finish for the team, who had achieved most of their
objectives.
Portuguese teenager, Miguel Oliveira, recorded
the fifth fastest time of the test (1’47.958). The 17 year old from Pragal near
Lisbon, was also impressively quick in the wet conditions of Thursday despite
having a small fall. “I'm really happy that we had the opportunity to continue
the job started in Valencia,” he commented. “I'm pleased with the way we are
working and I’m learning so much about the bike and my team. We are on a good
path and we are ready to fight.
“Our immediate area of focus is to find a good
set-up for the bike and doing our job without looking at the other teams and
riders. We need to give the best!"
Experienced Spanish rider Efrén Vázquez was
eighth fastest in Jerez (1’48.327). He finished testing at lunchtime feeling
satisfied with his move to Mahindra Racing: "I'm really happy with the
bike and everything is going better than we expected. I'm very pleased with the
team. It has all changed since last year and the expectations and thinking are
very positive. The project we are working for is a good one and we can do
well."
The successful ‘Jerez 1’ test followed on from
last week’s Valencia test, the first outing for the 2013 Mahindra. Efrén
finished the three days at Valencia with the eighth quickest time (1’40.495),
while his young teammate was 10th fastest (1’40.526). Both times were well
within the 2012 pole position time at Valencia, scene of the traditional end to
the MotoGP season in November. It marked an impressive debut for riders, team
and bike.
The 2013 Mahindra bikes completed 750km
(Efrén) and 800km (Miguel) over the two tests, but the hard work now continues
back in the team’s Swiss base before the final test, ‘Jerez 2’ (18-21 March).
Bikes and equipment will then be shipped to Qatar for the first race of the
season on 7 April.
Ends
About Mahindra Racing
Mahindra Racing became the first Indian team to participate in the FIM
MotoGP™ World Motorcycle Racing Championship in 2011 and the Italian National
Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in 2012.
Racing in the Moto3™ class in MotoGP, Mahindra Racing enters the
2013 season with its own new 4-stroke, single-cylinder 250cc motorcycle
developed in conjunction with experienced Swiss firm Suter Racing Technology
AG. Experienced Spanish rider Efrén Vázquez (26, from Bilbao) is teamed with
exciting Portuguese teenager Miguel Oliveira (17, from Pragal near Lisbon) in
the team.
In the 2012 CIV season, Mahindra Racing competed in the 125 GP
Class and became the first team from India to win an international motorsport
event, eventually recording six victories from eight races and securing the
Constructors’ Championship. In 2013, Mahindra Racing will enter the Moto3™
class in CIV.
For further
information please visit: www.mahindraracing.com
About
Mahindra
The
Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions that
power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles and increase
business efficiency.
A
USD 15.9 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs
more than 155,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key
industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility
vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership. In addition,
Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace,
components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial
services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel and two wheeler industries.
In
2012, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the
biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world.
For further enquiries
Roma
Balwani
Senior Vice
President – Group Communications
Mahindra &
Mahindra
Ltd.
Phone: +91 22 2490
1441
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