Mahindra Racing rider Miroslav Popov gives fighting finish As tight first corner catches Danny webb -By Sachin Murdeshwar

FIGHTING FINISH FOR MAHINDRA’S POPOV AFTER TIGHT FIRST CORNER CATCHES DANNY WEBB

IT WAS CLOSE FINISH FOR MAHINDRA’S POPOV

L-R Mufaddal Choonia,Mahindra Racing CEO; S.P. Shukla,President,Mahindra Group Strategy & Member-Group Executive Board;Eskil Suter,Chairman of Suter Racing Technology AG

 

Sunday, 16 September, 2012(Sachin Murdeshwar): Today at Misano, luck did not favour the Mahindra Moto3™ team, when top rider Danny Webb’s hopes of finishing in the points were dashed by a crash on the very first bend.

The 21-year-old Englishman became the latest of many victims of the Misano circuit’s very tight first corner, when he was squeezed and pushed on corner entry, in a high-speed traffic jam. He was unable to avoid a crash that involved three other riders.

But replacement rider Miroslav Popov restored some cheer to the Mahindra garage in only his second race on the white-and-red MGP-30, pulling through from 33rd on the grid to finish 19th, holding his place in the middle of a tight group of three more experienced GP riders.

The 17-year-old from the Czech Republic, riding in place of injured team regular Riccardo Moretti, is a grand prix novice, and a novice also on the 250cc four-stroke Moto3 machine, in the first year of the category.

Mahindra is one of a tiny handful of entrants using its own chassis and engine, developing new technology at the same time as challenging the might of the established racing factories that fill the rest of the grid. It is the first and still the only Indian team in motorcycle grand prix racing.

The race, round 23 laps of the 4.226-km circuit, was won by title leader Sandro Cortese.

 

19th positioned MIROSLAV POPOV said “As seems normal for me, I got a bad start and was at the back. I managed to chase the group in front of me, and I had a good fight with them that lasted the whole race. I had some difficulty changing gear later in the race which made it more difficult, so I am quite pleased I could carry on the battle.”

DANNY WEBB who did not finish said “That was really frustrating – all the effort and the race lasted only a couple of hundred metres. I was in the back half of the grid and the first corners are really tight, and as everyone funnelled in I was blocked and had nowhere to go. I crashed, and unfortunately three other riders also went down … that’s how crowded it gets. Better luck next time.”

MUFADDAL CHOONIA, Mahindra Racing CEO said “It was a shame that Danny was caught out so early in the race as he was having a reasonably good weekend. But the first turn is tight and the Moto3 grid is big so it was always going to be interesting. I am happy about Miro’s ride. He had a respectable race in which many other riders crashed.”

Mahindra Racing is 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).

On the world stage, the Indian factory team signed off its 2011 debut season on a high note with action packed performances by both its riders. Marcel Schrötter finished 15th overall in the 125cc Rider’s Championship and the team finished a strong third overall in the Constructor’s Championship. Danny Webb made history when he secured pole position in Valencia in the last race of the 125cc era. The team has taken this learning into its participation in the all new Moto3™ class which replaced the 125cc class from the 2012 season onwards.

In the CIV in Italy, the team competes in the 125 GP Class with ex-Italian Champion Riccardo Moretti. The team became the first from India to win an international motorsport event when Riccardo took the chequered flag at the season-opening race of the CIV in Mugello, Italy on 25 March, 2012. Since then, the team has recorded five victories from seven races with only one round remaining. Having secured second place in the Championship, Moretti has now joined Webb on the MGP-30 for the remainder of the Moto3 season.

For further information please visit: www.mahindraracing.com

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 USD 15.4 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India and is the only global group that is present in the complete transportation chain from two wheelers, passenger vehicles and trucks to boats and aeroplanes. 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.For further information, please visit www.mahindra.com, www.mahindra2wheelers.com www.facebook.com/mahindragroup,www.facebook.com/mahindrascooters