Luckless day for Mahindra In Malaysia

Oct. 27, 2014

Both Mahindra team riders were early departures from today’s Malaysian GP, the penultimate round in the Moto3 World Championship – spoiling the hopes of a repeat rostrum finish at the Sepang circuit outside Kuala Lumpur.
 
Miguel Oliveira had qualified on row three and made a strong start in the top ten, only to suffer a collision in the heavy first-lap traffic, sending him tumbling off the track and out of the race, where last year he finished third.
 
Teammate Andrea Migno was no more fortunate. Starting from 18th position, he finished the first lap 20th, but was poised to move forward. Instead he too fell victim to the heavy traffic and slippery circuit.
 
Neither rider was injured, but neither was able to restart.
 
Mahindra’s final hope of a top-ten finish disappeared when Ambrogio Racing’s Brad Binder, on a customer MGP3O, pitted to retire. The team found the front tyre had lost pressure, probably caused by impact with the kerb or another rider.
 
In championship terms, this double non-finish left Oliveira and Binder still equal on points, and their battle for a top-ten finish will go to the last round in Valencia, in two weeks’ time.
 
Mahindra is the only Indian constructor in the World Championship series.
 
Miguel Oliveira – Did Not Finish (DNF)
“I am so disappointed. I really hoped for a strong race today, but I didn’t even get to see the end of the first lap. I started quite well but there was a lot of pushing and shoving, and unfortunately I got the worst of it.”
 
Andrea Migno – Did Not Finish (DNF)
“Two times in three races I’ve been crashed by another rider. It’s bad luck, and not necessary to ride like that.”
 
Mufaddal Choonia – CEO Mahindra Racing
“We had high hopes for today: Sepang is a good track for us. Unfortunately the luck turned sour, and both riders were out almost before they’d started. There’s nothing to say except perhaps ‘That’s racing’. It makes us more determined to come back strongly for the last race of the year.”