Mahindra Secures First And Second Positions At Brno GP

Mahindra has created history in the World Championship Racing by securing first and second positions in Moto3.

Mahindra, the only Indian manufacturer in MotoGP, has created history by winning the Moto3 race this weekend. It was a proud moment for all the Indian motorsport fans when the Mahindra riders, Scotsman John McPhee and Jorge Martin, finished the last lap of Czech Republic Grand Prix in first and second position, respectively. Riding his new Peugeot-derived MGP30 bike on the rain-soaked Brno circuit, McPhee was over eight seconds clear at the flag.

Commenting on his victory at the Brno GP John McPhee said, “I am still trying to let it sink in. Today was kind of hard. I had a good strategy for the dry and had won a good starting position, but in the rain it is so difficult to make a plan. I knew I had to be in the front group, and then wait and see. Brad [Binder} had a good rhythm, so I decided to follow him then attack in the last laps. Unfortunately for him he fell off. Then I had to keep calm and keep my own rhythm. I was trying to read my pit board but my visor was fogged. I couldn’t see if I was leading by 12 seconds or 1.2 seconds. After I had a big moment with three laps to go I looked over my shoulder, and I could see I had a clear lead.”

Spanish teenager Martin (Aspar Mahindra Team) took a career-best second place, giving the official Mahindra team its fifth podium of its best season so far. After securing second position at Czech GP he said, “Really happy with this position. In the Warm Up I really didn’t feel good but we used a similar setting to John who was strong and in the race I was really fast because of this. I was pushing so much and I knew that the front riders had a bit of a better pace, but I kept my rhythm and finally I finished in the podium.”

After two days of sunshine in practice and qualifying, race day was sodden, with steady rain keeping the majestic 5.403-km circuit streaming wet, and sending several fancied riders slithering off into the gravel.

The 2016 MotoGP season has been Mahindra’s best year so far as this double podium finish comes just three races after the marque’s historic first win in the Dutch TT at Assen. The rider in that dry race was Aspar Mahindra Team’s Pecco Bagnaia and it was the fourth podium for the 19-year-old Italian this year. Unfortunately, he was one of many to crash out of Brno GP, hampered by tyre problems.

Now, the next race is the British GP at Silverstone in two weeks, and Mahindra has a great chance to add another page to its book of history. So, let's cheer for Mahindra and wait for the next Moto3 race.