MAHINDRA SHOWS STRENGTH TO SCORE AGAIN IN AUSTRALIA
1.1
Phillip
Island, Australia, October 20, 2013:
Mahindra
rider Efrén
Vázquez
showed true racing grit in Australia, fighting back into a big leading group in
the closing stages to regain seventh place, giving the only Indian grand prix
machine another top ten finish in its first development season.
The 27-year-old
Spaniard from Bilbao was the fastest man on the track in the closing laps, as
his choice of a harder rear tyre began at last to pay dividends. He closed a gap
that had been more than four seconds to the leader to rejoin a fearsome leading
group, and was starting to gain places. The chequered flag came one lap too
early for him to do better than seventh. He was only 1.1 seconds behind the race
winner.
Vazquez
had qualified third, for his first front-row start of the season, and the
Mahindra MGP3OⳠfifth.
The
race was a massive disappointment for team-mate Miguel Oliveira (18, from
Portugal). Fresh from scoring the white-and-red MahindraⳠmaiden top-three podium
in Malaysia, Oliveira was making up places after a third-row start when he was
jostled at the hairpin halfway round the first lap.
He ran
out of track room, hit another bike, and crashed spectacularly, the Mahindra
looping through the air. The bike was not badly damaged, and Miguel remounted at
the back to recover to an eventual 26th.
The
first race of the day, the Moto3頷as the only grand prix to run to full distance,
with both Moto2 and MotoGP cut in length because of concerns about high tyre
wear on the resurfaced 4.448-km Phillip Island circuit. It started in dry
conditions, and while spots of rain brought out the warning flags, the full 23
laps were completed on a dry surface.
The
race was won by Spaniard Alex Rins, by inches from Maverick Vinales, with Luis
Salom completing an all-Spanish podium. The top seven crossed the line within
1.1 seconds.
The
Mahindra MGP3O, designed and built in record time for a competitive debut at the
first race of the year, has made history for India throughout its maiden season,
the latest milestone being the historic first rostrum in Malaysia last Sunday.
After todayⳠrace, Mahindra is just six points away from gaining second place in
the Constructors Championship.
The
next race, in the third of three yaways⠩n a row, is at Motegi in Japan next
Sunday. Two weeks later, the 17-round Moto3 season concludes at Valencia in
Spain.
EFRÉN
VÁZQUEZ 7th
Position
It was
a very difficult first lap. In the fourth corner another rider came in hard and
hit me, then some other riders including Miguel crashed next to me, and I lost
some positions. The gap to the front was one or two seconds. I tried to push and
get my rhythm and stayed in the group, then I made some mistakes fighting with
Antonelli, and lost touch. This track is really difficult without a slipstream
and I was losing a few tenths every lap. Then I saw the lead group was fighting
and losing time, and I pushed even harder to catch up. I got one place back, but
there was no time to do more.
MIGUEL
OLIVEIRA 26th Position
I was
trying to gain positions braking up the inside at the hairpin on the first lap,
but some guy behind me was pushing my bike forward. I donⴠknow if I locked the
brake or exactly what happened, but I couldnⴠavoid crashing. The bike was okay,
so I went again, just tried to do my lap times and finish the race. I knew I
couldnⴠcatch the leaders, but I tried anyway.
MUFADDAL
CHOONIA CEO, Mahindra Racing
Racing
can be so cruel At the last race Miguel finished on the podium, a week later he
was unlucky to crash on the first lap. However Efrén
showed his strength at this race, and finished well to gain valuable points.
Mahindra is still in the hunt for second overall in the Constructors
Championship.
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