Solid start for Mahindra at the Inaugural Moto3 Race in Qatar

SOLID START FOR MAHINDRA AT INAUGURAL MOTO3™ RACE

British racer Danny Webb took his brand-new Mahindra MGP30 to a solid finish in its first grand prix – also the first for the brand-new Moto3™ class – after overnight adjustments found a significant speed improvement.

The 21-year-old rider had qualified 25th, but rode through from a bad start to finish 18th – just three places out of the points – after overnight work by the Mahindra team showed yet more progress for the single-cylinder 250cc machine. The bike is still in the early stages of development, but moving fast-forward.

Team-mate Marcel Schrötter was not so lucky ... after a good start from 23rd on the grid saw him gain places, up to 18th by lap four. Then he ran into gear-shifting problems, and after five of the 18 laps of the 5.380 km Losail desert circuit, he pitted to retire.

The Mahindra is one of a handful of independently made motorcycles on a 30-plus grid mainly comprising over-the-counter production racers from established racing firms. The Indian automotive giant preferred to develop its own technology, challenging the establishment head on. Mahindra builds the MGP30’s chassis, and runs its own engine development program in co-operation with Italian engine manufacturer Oral.

The program is hampered by regulations limiting the number of engines to eight per rider. Improvements can only be done in discrete steps rather than continuously.

Mahindra Group vice-chairman and managing director Mr. Anand Mahindra was at the Qatari circuit to watch the new machine’s debut ... and he and the team were cheered by news from Italy that in the national 125 championship, Mahindra had claimed victory at Imola, on a machine ridden by Riccardo Moretti.

Moto3 replaces the classic 125cc class with 250cc single-cylinder four-strokes. Today’s first race was won by Spanish teenager Maverick Vinales on a Honda. The next round is the Spanish GP at Jerez in three weeks.

DANNY WEBB – 18TH POSITION

That was better than I expected after struggling in qualifying. The bike didn’t miss a beat. I got off the line badly, stone last – but I found my rhythm and focused on passing the people ahead, and staying there. We had to grin and bear it this weekend. The engine rules meant we couldn’t do much to improve the engine. We’re at the beginning of development. For sure we can come to the pace up front.

MARCEL SCHRÖTTER – Did Not Finish

I didn’t expect that – I was struggling in practice but we made a step in warm-up and another step for the race. and it closed a big gap to the fastest bikes. I was up to 18th and closing on the group in front, from tenth to 16th places, and I was closing. But a problem changing gear meant I had to pull in.

MUFADDAL CHOONIA – CEO Mahindra Racing

A lot of positives came out of today’s race. We made some improvements to engine mapping that really boosted the performance of the engine. Sadly we were far back on the grid, so Danny’s finish was good. Marcel was having a good race and maybe looking at the top ten, but a minor glitch that forced him to retire. Hopefully we’ll be back with a much better performance in Jerez.

www.mahindraracing.com

About The Mahindra Group

The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership. Mahindra has a presence in the automotive industry, agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel and two wheelers. A US $14.4 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 144,000 people in over 100 countries.  In 2011, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. Dun & Bradstreet also ranked Mahindra at No. 1 in the automobile sector in its list of India’s Top 500 Companies. In 2010, Mahindra featured in the Credit Suisse Great Brands of Tomorrow. In 2011, Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company.

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