Team Aspar Mahindra rider Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia fought to a brilliant second place finish in a hold-your-breath Moto3 battle at Silverstone on September4, 2016, finishing less than two tenths of a second away from victory at the sharp end of a 12-strong brawl. But it was South African Brad Binder (KTM) who strengthened his title bid with a solid Silverstone victory ahead of Francesco Bagnaia and Bo Bendsneyder
Pecco started from his first pole position, and fought every inch of the 17 laps of the long and technically challenging 5.9-km British circuit to stay at the front of a massive group, with riders changing places at every one of the 18 corners.
It came down to cool-headed tactics in a hot-headed group. Bagnaia started the last lap in third place, but used his experience to move up to second, finally crossing the line right in the slipstream of race and championship leader Brad Binder (KTM). It gave him 20 valuable points, moving him up to third overall in the championship, just eight points short of second-placed Jorge Navarro (Honda), who crashed out of the race.
It was almost two Mahindras on the podium, with wild card Stefano Manzi (Mahindra Racing) making blazing progress from 34th on the grid to join the lead pack in the early stages. The 17-year-old Italian fought to the end, holding his own among the biggest names in the fiercely competitive Moto3 class. And it was almost three MGP3Os in the top ten, with second Aspar Team rider Jorge Martin eleventh in spite of a penalty that had obliged him to drop back in the leading group.
Second at Silverstone is a second successive podium finish for the only Indian constructor in the World Championship, and continues Mahindra’s best ever season. Bagnaia claimed the MGP3O’s first win at Assen, and has been in the top three five times; while Martin claimed his first podium, finishing second at Brno two weeks ago. The winner there was Mahindra’s sister brand Peugeot, with John McPhee taking his first win on the MGP3O.
The intensive MotoGP season moves directly to Italy next weekend, for the San Marino and Rimini GP at Misano, where Mahindra Racing will celebrate its 100th Gran Prix race start.
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has introduced the new wired to wireless adapter engineered to provide seamless wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto access for Alcazar customers.
The 2024 Mahindra Thar Roxx from Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. is the first new passenger vehicle to feature Monroe OE Solutions passive dampers fitted with Tenneco’s Monroe Ride Refine Advanced Hydrauli...
Lanxess is offering a new solution for the rapidly growing battery industry. The Lewatit MK 51 ion exchange resin from Lanxess selectively removes boron from metal concentrates, thus enabling the extr...