Spielberg, 11 August 2016:
A number of exciting developments have occurred during the summer break, Mahindra set to build on the thrilling start to 2016.
There are still nine races to go and Austria ushers in the second half of the 2016 season with a new challenge; none of the Moto3 World Championship field has run in a race at the Red Bull Ring - Spielberg before. It will be a weekend of learning for all Mahindra riders, especially Marcos Ramirez who joins the Platinum Bay Real Estate Team alongside Darryn Binder. Ramirez hails from the Moto3 Junior World Championship and is currently locked in a tight battle with Italian rider Lorenzo Dalla Porta for the title.
The final nine races of the year present an excellent opportunity to reinforce the progress made by Mahindra Racing in 2016, which is easily their best season so far in terms of podium finishes. Francesco 'Pecco' Bagnaia has already brought incredible joy to Mahindra with his fantastic maiden win in Assen. The German GP showed there's still plenty more to come from the rest of the Mahindra riders, the new gearbox helping Jorge Martin to challenge at the sharp end during practice and bringing consistency across the board. John McPhee was full of praise for the upgrade after taking sixth place in the race, his best result of the season.
Mufaddal Choonia, CEO, Mahindra Racing
"It has been a very positive season in almost every regard so far. Pecco has done an incredible job and his close fourth place in the championship standings is well deserved. Sachsenring showed us that the new gearbox is definitely a step forward as both Jorge and John were strong during the weekend. The team in Besozzo are working tirelessly and we're already seeing good results, as shown in the CIV with Marco's performance. Austria is going to be a big test for all the teams and riders as it is new, no previous data. Friday will be a day of learning. It would have been great if there was an official test at the circuit so that all the teams could get a chance to come in on Friday armed with a base setting. The circuit wasn’t available for many teams who wanted to test there, including ours. We're excited for what the coming nine races will offer, especially in Misano where we will celebrate our 100th Grand Prix in the World Championship."
Bezzecchi dominates aboard the MGP3O
Marco Bezzecchi, currently riding the Mahindra MGP3O in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship with the Mahindra Junior Team, returned to his native Italy to race in the Italian domestic championship as a wildcard between CEV rounds. The talented Italian took to the Misano World Circuit aboard a development spec MGP3O, beginning to test several parts and upgrades planned for the 2017 season.
His performance did not disappoint as he dominated both races at the sea-side Misano circuit. The combination of Bezzecchi and the MGP3O was untouchable as he crossed the line over three seconds ahead of his closest rival in both races. With an ever growing level of confidence, Bezzecchi now prepares for his next challenge: running with the Moto3 World Championship in Austria as a wildcard alongside CEV teammate Stefano Manzi. Mahindra Racing hopes to have these riders make a few appearances as wildcards over the second half of the year to assist in the ongoing development of the 2017 Mahindra MGP3O project.
About Mahindra Racing
In 2016, Mahindra Racing is competing as a constructor in its fifth year in the Moto3TM class of MotoGPTM and remains the only Indian constructor in the series, having first participated in 2011. Mahindra Racing supplies the Mahindra MGP3O single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 250cc motorcycle to the factory Aspar Mahindra Team and three customer teams. Mahindra also supplies an official Peugeot Motocycles derivative of the MGP3O to the factory Peugeot MC Saxoprint Team.
The 2016 Mahindra Racing line-up includes: Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3 - Jorge Martin (SPA), Francesco Bagnaia (ITA); Peugeot MC Saxoprint - Albert Arenas (SPA), John Mcphee (GB); Platinum Bay Real Estate - Marcos Ramirez (SPA), Darryn Binder (RSA); CIP-Unicom Starker- Fabio Spiranelli (ITA), Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN); 3570 Team Italia - Stefano Valtulini (ITA), Lorenzo Petrarca (ITA).
Mahindra Racing made history in the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix taking the first-ever podium for an Indian constructor. The MGP3O recorded top-five finishes in 10 of the 17 rounds in 2013 as well as a pole position, three circuit lap records and third in the constructors' rankings. The 2014 season saw a further three podium finishes for the Indian motorcycle, including second place at the Sachsenring. In 2015, the Mahindra regularly fought at the front of the ultra-competitive Moto3TM class and recorded a podium finish at Le Mans.
2016 got off to a strong start for Mahindra Racing with Aspar Mahindra Team Moto3 rider Francesco (Pecco) Bagnaia securing a third place podium finish at the opening round in Qatar. The podiums continued in Jerez and Mugello before Pecco made history with victory in Assen, Mahindra's first in the World Championship. It was a historic day for everyone involved and proved the high level performance capabilities of the MGP3O. As well as its commitment in the World Championship, Mahindra continues to supply MGP3O machines to Team Aspar to compete in World Championship feeder series, the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2016.
Mahindra's bold decision to take on the world's best at the highest level of motorcycle racing has won the team a number of prestigious awards in India, including: the NDTV Car and Bike Awards - 'Mobil 1 Motorsport Award of the Year', 2012 and 2013; the Bike India Magazine - 'Motorsport Award', 2013; and 'ZigWheels Motorsport Award of the Year', 2012. Mahindra also won ‘Racing Bike of the Year' at the Zeeignition Auto Awards, 2016.
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 17.8 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra provides employment opportunities to over 200,000 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, financial services and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries.
In 2015, Mahindra & Mahindra was recognized as the Best Company for CSR in India in a study by the Economic Times. In 2014, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000, a comprehensive listing of the world's largest, most powerful public companies, as measured by revenue, profit, assets and market value. The Mahindra Group also received the Financial Times 'Boldness in Business' Award in the 'Emerging Markets' category in 2013.
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For further enquiries
Mr. Darius Lam
General Manager
Group Communications
Mahindra Group
Phone: +91 22 2491 6818
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Mr. Harry Lloyd
Mahindra Racing Moto3TM press officer
HPS Jardine
Phone: +44 1628 450 731
Mobile: +44 7450 624 931
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