Austin, Texas, 23 April 2017: Mahindra completed the third of the opening three fly-away MotoGP races today just two places away from the points, and are looking forward to regrouping when the European season begins in a fortnight.

It has been a difficult start for the only Indian constructor in the world championships, with the all-new version of the Mahindra MGP3O still finding its feet in the ultra-close Moto3 class.

Now, after the far-away rounds in Qatar, Argentina and today in the USA, the team returns to its base in Italy, with the chance to put the final polish on the new machine, and resume steady strong finishes, as a follow-up to the three wins in Mahindra’s best-yet 2016 season.

The top Mahindra finisher at the long and spectacular 5.513-km Circuit of the Americas was 18-year-old Italian rookie Marco Bezzecchi, part of the CIP team, who finished 17th, his best result so far in his first full season. Two places higher and the former Italian CIV champion would have scored World Championship points for the first time.

Next was official Aspar Mahindra Team rider Albert Arenas, who gained one place from his qualifying position, finishing 21st in a race that was shortened from 18 laps to 12, after the first attempt was red-flagged on the third lap.

Today’s race was won by Honda-mounted Romano Fenati, with the winner of the first two rounds – Joan Mir – dropping to eighth in the race, showing the volatility of the lightweight class championship.

Mahindra will be working hard and planning to profit from that volatility when racing resumes in Europe in the Spanish GP at Jerez in two weeks.