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Tag: MotoGP
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Rossi tops time sheets for Yamaha Factory Racing
Sepang (Malaysia), 28 Feb 2014: Yamaha Factory Racing’s Valentino Rossi has completed the second official test of the 2014 MotoGP season as the fastest rider. Rossi wrapped up the three days of riding at the Sepang International circuit in Malaysia with a fastest time of 1’59.999, one of only two riders to drop under the two minute mark after an impressive fastest lap today.
Whilst still struggling to find a perfect solution to the new Bridgestone tyres, Jorge Lorenzo was able to find a change to make some improvement to set up today. The Mallorcan was still less than satisfied overall with the grip levels on offer from the 2014 rubber. Lorenzo was able to step a little closer to the front than yesterday, wrapping up in seventh, just over 0.6 of a second from his teammate in first.
The Team now move directly to Phillip Island in Australia for a further test before the season kicks off under the floodlights of Qatar on the 23rd March.Valentino Rossi, who did 41 laps today, with a best lap of 1:59.999 topped the time sheets: He said: “First of all I am very happy because I am in first position and I did a good lap. I was one of the only ones in the 1’59s which is positive, especially because with the 2014 tyres in the first test we tried a time attack and I was more than one second slower than today. This test we have always been at the top and fighting for the first position so it’s positive. We still have some problems when it’s very hot over long distance with the new tyres, so we still have to work, but we made a good step from the first test. The next test in Philip Island will be very important to understand if also there we improved a lot like here because I am more than one second faster than the second test of last year so we have been working well.”
Jorge Lorenzo clocked 7th fastest time after 70 laps. “We found a better solution today to improve our situation and adapt these tyres at this track. The tyres are much harder in the sidewalls. At this track, with this tarmac that is very slippery, it’s not the same as Phillip Island or Mugello for example, it’s impossible for us to be competitive. This tyre is much worse for Yamaha and better for Honda. Our bike is competitive, at a similar level to the competitors but with the tyre we have problems. We tried a simulation today and it was worse and worse every lap. In the edge there is a problem with no grip but also when you pick up the bike it spins. You can improve the feeling a little to get more grip but when the tyre starts to drop the problems get worse and worse,” Lorenzo said.
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Lorenzo takes victory in Japan to stretch the title-battle
Motegi (Japan), 27 Oct 2013: Defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo delivered an incredible performance today to take victory in the Grand Prix of Japan, claiming the Motegi circuit for Yamaha. A dramatic weekend dominated by complicated weather conditions meant the only dry set up time for today’s race was this morning in the final warm up session.
An Yamaha Factory Racing release said: Lorenzo rose to the occasion, firing off the start line like a bullet in front of Yamaha’s home crowd to lead the race into the first laps. The Mallorcan was able to build a gap of nearly two seconds in the first three laps then saw it cut as championship rival Marc Marquez closed in. Marquez and Dani Pedrosa were able to get onto the heels of Lorenzo but unable to pass. The defending champion held on to the line to score his 51stGrand Prix victory, crossing the line just over three seconds clear of Marquez.Teammate Valentino Rossi made a great start to the race from the second row and tucked in behind Lorenzo in second position as the Japanese Grand prix got underway. Unfortunately a lack of braking power on turn 11 of the second lap caused him to run wide, allowing Marquez and Pedrosa past. He then got back on track but suffered the same issue the following lap, dropping down to 11th in the process. In typical Rossi fashion he then put his head down and made several passes as he fought back up the field to finish in sixth position.
The stunning victory by Lorenzo brings him five points closer to Marquez. 13 points separate them now as they head to the final round in Valencia. Rossi increases his point score to 224 and remains in fourth place in the standings.
After the race, a visibly pleased Lorenzo said: “We chose the soft tyre and the others chose the hard tyre, we knew that at the end of the race we might have problems but finally I could push even more the lap times. The strategy could have been different but to take this win at the home of Honda makes me very happy.”
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Lorenzo Masters Wet Motegi for Perfect Pole: Grand Prix of Japan
Motegi (Japan), 26 Oct 2013: Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo delivered a stunning performance in this afternoon’s extended MotoGP qualifying session to take pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Japan.Following yesterday’s cancellation of practice sessions due to weather conditions, the premier class were today given a special 75-minute qualifying heat, allowing the drama of the Japanese round to finally move to the track.
Defending world champion Lorenzo made full use of the extended session, getting straight out onto the wet circuit to start working on his race set up. Having initially swapped the top spot with rival Marc Marquez early in the session he dropped down the timesheets. After some work on the set up he was back, rising quickly to 2nd after a third of the time had gone, 0.1seconds from Marquez in top. The top positions continued to change until with 15 minutes to go, when Lorenzo put the hammer down and delivered a perfect 1’53.965 to go over half a second clear at the top. Whilst his rivals were able to improve, so was he, dropping even further to a 1’53.471 in the final seconds to secure pole 0.65 ahead of Marquez.
Lorenzo said: “I’m really happy, it was not so simple because my last memory of the rain was Assen. At the beginning I was a little bit scared and didn’t want to crash. We were lucky to have the extended qualifying time to get used to the track. Little by little I got confidence and finally I felt really good with the bike and the grip of the track, especially under braking. It doesn’t matter if it’s wet or dry tomorrow, it’s not my problem to think about it, I have to ride in whatever conditions we have. A wet race would be better for the championship though!”
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Marquez slips; Lorenzo delivers stunning ride
Phillip Island (Australia), 20 Oct 2013: Defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo delivered a stunning ride today to win the Australian Grand Prix in a thrilling spectacle filled with drama. Teammate Valentino Rossi delivered another exciting performance, fighting to take third on the podium.
Following concerns over the safety of the Bridgestone tyres to last full race distance the race was changed to incorporate a bike change at the ten-lap mark, with the total laps reduced to 19, an Yamaha release said. Honda’s Marc Marquez, who failed to get into the pits for a bike change was black flagged for his second DNF which effectively reduced his championship lead to 18 points and made it wide open again.
Jorge Lorenzo after winning the Australian GP on Sunday. An Yamaha photo The start saw Lorenzo take the hole-shot from his pole position with riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa in hot pursuit. The reigning champion gave no quarter but was unable to pull away, the rivals staying within 0.5 of a second as they counted down to the pit stop. This itself turned into a bizarre event with potential consequences for the championship. Pedrosa pitted a lap early, Lorenzo pitted at the ten-lap mark and Marquez pitted a lap too late. As a result Marquez was given a black flag and disqualified and Pedrosa was forced to drop a position after crossing the white line on his pit lane exit.
Further disaster was also narrowly avoided when Marquez exited the pits just as Lorenzo passed down the straight at high speed, the two making contact into turn one. Luckily both were able to stay upright and continue. Lorenzo kept the pressure on and held the top spot for the remaining nine laps to claim the race win.
Rossi enjoyed yet another intense race long battle with rivals Cal Crutchlow and Alvaro Bautista. The three swapping positions in the fight for the last podium spot throughout the first ten laps and again in the following nine. Rossi completed a super fast pit stop, beating both out to gain two positions. As one of the most successful MotoGP riders of the modern era in Phillip Island it was never going to be easy for them to beat him, and they couldn’t. The Italian claimed third at the line to make it another double Yamaha podium.
The result leaves Lorenzo now on 280 points, 18 behind Marquez as they head to Motegi for the final of the triple-headers. Rossi stays secure in fourth position on 214 points, 35 ahead of Crutchlow in fifth.
Lorenzo said: “I’m really happy with this win, we’ve also been lucky because Marc made this mistake. Without that he would have been second or first because he was really fast today. So we’ve been lucky but we were unlucky in the middle of the championship so today is a balance. When I was entering the first corner Marc was exiting the pit at exactly the same time, the situation was almost impossible to avoid. I was braking a little later to open the line and I don’t think he was looking so much entering the corner so it was both our fault. Now we have options, if Marc keeps constant on the podium then it is impossible to win the championship but there are a lot of laps to go so anything could happen. It’s unbelievable to have 50 Grand Prix victories at 26years old. It seems like only yesterday when I won in Brazil in 2003 but it’s been ten years. I’m very proud of it and hope to win some more in the future!”
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Sixth win of the year for Marquez; Pedrosa crashes; Yamaha 2-3
Aragon, 29 Sept 2013: Repsol Honda RC213V rider Marc Marquez fought back after almost running off the track to take his sixth win of the year at Aragon, stretching his title lead to almost 40 points with four races remaining. It was Honda’s eighth win this year, and the RC213V’s third in a row at the scenic Motorland Aragon circuit in the Spanish hinterland.
The team’s joy was tempered by misfortune to second Repsol Honda RC213V rider Dani Pedrosa, who crashed out heavily in a freak incident on the sixth of 23 laps. He had taken second place from pole starter Marquez, and was mounting a strong challenge on early leader Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) at the time, the www.hondaproracing.com website reported.
Split seconds before Marquez ran wide, he clipped the rear of Pedrosa’s machine, and the team discovered that one of the electronic sensors of the traction-control system had been damaged, causing the system to become inoperative. This triggered the crash, which happened a few yards further on as Pedrosa opened the throttle. The rear wheel spun, the bike slewed sideways, and the Spaniard – who turned 28 on race day – was tossed over the high side.
Lorenzo had led away with yet another of his trade-mark lightning starts, and led by a second after the first lap, with Marquez second and Pedrosa third. The Honda pair gradually closed the gap over the next four laps; then on the fifth Pedrosa pounced on his team-mate, and was soon on the Yamaha’s back wheel and challenging strongly.
It seemed only a matter of time before he took the lead, but he hadn’t completed another lap when instead he was sent flying.
While Pedrosa was taken to the medical centre for checks (he escaped serious injury), Marquez regrouped and set about closing a gap of almost two seconds on Lorenzo. It took him nine laps to catch up and get ahead with a clean but forceful pass. Lorenzo stayed close until the closing stages, but was powerless to prevent Marquez taking the win by better than one second.
A crowd of 61,300 enjoying warm but overcast conditions were rewarded with exciting racing down the field, with a four-bike battle for the last rostrum place. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) hung on to the spot under race-long pressure from Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda RC213V), Alvaro Bautista (FUN&GO Gresini Honda RC213V) and Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha).
It came to a climax in the last six laps. First Bautista got ahead of Rossi, then Bradl joined the action, with Crutchlow a close spectator. The trio changed places again with two laps to go, Rossi regaining the upper hand to lead Bautista over the line by less than a second. The Spaniard had his hands full with Bradl, less than two tenths behind. Crutchlow was just over half a second away. Less than two seconds covered the quartet.
Bautista has a special role with Honda, race-developing Showa suspension and Nissin brakes, the only rider to use the Japanese components made by companies associated with Honda
His team-mate Bryan Staring (GO&FUN Honda Gresini FTR Honda) finished 18th, in the middle of a three-rider battle. The Australian, in his first grand prix season, rides a CBR1000RR-powered machine in the CRT category.
Marquez has now amassed a total of 278 points, with Lorenzo second on 239, and Pedrosa dropped to third on 219.
The next race is the Malaysian GP in two weeks’ time, followed week by week by two more long-distance races, in Australia and Japan, before the season finale in Valencia.
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Riders fighting for the third place at MotoGP in Aragon on 29 Sept 2013. An Yamaha Factory Racing photo -
Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup invites applications
The Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup is an exciting new competition for 2014, which will act as a feeder series to the world of motorcycle racing.
The new project aims to give riders from the A
Photo courtesy AsiaTalentCup.com sian region a formal path into competitive road racing, so if you believe you have the talent and speed to make it as a professional rider SIGN UP HERE.
The application period for interested riders is from 18th August to 22nd September.
Led in-part by renowned and successful talent scout Alberto Puig, responsible for such talents as Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa and the leader of the successful MotoGP™ Academy, the competition will see Asia’s stars of the future participate in a six-race series in 2014 on Honda NSF250R Moto3 machines.
Run by Dorna, the organizers of the MotoGP™ World Championship and the eni FIM Superbike World Championship, as well as co-organizer of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, the competition will provide a spotlight for the most talented young riders in Asia.
The 22 most talented riders who make it through from the pre-selection event to be held at the Sepang International Circuit in October 2013, after this year’s Malaysian MotoGP round, will then race in Qatar, Indonesia (Sentul), China, Japan (Motegi), Malaysia, as well as in India (Buddh Circuit) – either on MotoGP™ or SBK race weekends or in independent events.
If you are between the age of 14 and 20 and think you have the talent to make it through to the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, submit your application HERE. The deadline for applications is 22nd September 2013.
For information in other languages or more information please contact us via info@asiatalentcup.comor visit our Facebook page
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Mahindra riders finish 5th and 6th: MotoGP 3
Circuit de Catalunya, 16 June 2013: The Mahindra pair Efrén Vázquez and Miguel Oliveira finished fifth and sixth in today’s Catalunyan Grand Prix. The double top six is the only Indian international motorcycle racing team’s best result so far, earning valuable points to improve the all-new MGP3O machine’s strong standing in the championships, a press release said.
The race was a personal triumph for Vázquez. The 26-year-old racer from Bilbao in northern Spain missed the last two races after breaking his collarbone in practice in France. Still not fully healed, he gritted his teeth and even took the lead mid-race. Still close to the leaders after 22 gruelling laps, fifth was his best finish of the season.
Oliveira (18, from Portugal) started from the front row for the second time this year, and played a strong part in the seven-strong breakaway. By the end he had lost a couple of seconds on his team-mate, but held his pace to win a strong fight for sixth.
It was an important race for the team and the motorcycle. Designed and built in just six months the first Mahindra MGP3O prototype proved not only reliable from the start, but also impressively competitive. The bike for round six in Catalunya was a first development step. Upgraded internal parts and a new muffler have improved engine performance, while refined bodywork has smoothed the aerodynamics.
Both riders felt the advantage, proving development is in the right direction; and the result moved Mahindra tantalisingly closer to second overall in the constructors’ table.
The next round is in two weeks, where the Dutch TT is held on a Saturday at the historic Assen venue.
EFRÉN VÁZQUEZ – Fifth Place
I am very happy with this race even though I couldn’t fight for the podium right until the end. Fighting in the first group demonstrates the level of our performance with the new bike. The setting of the bike was perfect. My main issue was my shoulder. I need more time to let it completely recover because at the end of the race it was difficult to move. It was difficult to ride in such a big battle when I am not at 100 percent. After five or six laps my strength was dropping and the pain increasing. Finally I could be fifth: a very positive result because I am not so far from the first group.
MIGUEL OLIVEIRA – Sixth Place
It was an okay race – I got caught up battling with Jack Miller and we both lost touch with the front group. It was a bit difficult to fight today, but it was important to finish and I am happy we could still get sixth; and sixth in the championship is not bad. Maybe I could have done better if everything had gone 100%, but racing is like that and I am happy that we are in good shape for the next races.
MUFADDAL CHOONIA – Mahindra Racing CEO
It was a very good performance from the boys today. I wouldn’t say I am totally happy, in spite of a double top six. I think we could have finished a couple of places higher had it not been forEfrén’s shoulder, which really hindered him in the second half of the race. It was great to see him leading the race and taking the fight to the rest, but it was difficult to maintain his pace. He was in real pain when he came back into the box – I am very pleased with his effort and determination today. Miguel got caught up with another rider and at a circuit like Catalunya it is very difficult to catch up again once you lose the slipstream. The updates that we had on the bike following the test in Mugello worked very well. This is a good sign for the future and shows we are working in the right direction.
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About Mahindra Racing
1.2
Mahindra Racing became 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.
Racing in the Moto3™ class in MotoGP, Mahindra Racing entered the 2013 season with its own new 4-stroke, single-cylinder, 250cc motorcycle: the Mahindra MGP3O, developed with experienced Swiss firm Suter Racing Technology AG. Experienced Spanish rider Efrén Vázquez (26, from Bilbao) is teamed with exciting Portuguese teenager Miguel Oliveira (18, from Pragal near Lisbon). At the opening round in Qatar, the duo finished with a best-ever double Top 10 result for the only Indian team in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. In Round 2 in Austin, Oliveira finished a superlative fifth while Vázquez claimed 14th place. Celebrating a third successive top ten finish in Round 3 at Jerez, Vázquez claimed eighth place. At Round 4 in Le Mans, Oliveira secured a front row start by qualifying second.
In the 2012 CIV season, Mahindra Racing competed in the 125 GP Class and became the first team from India to win an international motorsport event, eventually recording six victories from eight races and securing the Constructors’ Championship. In the 2013 CIV season, the team has entered the Moto3 (250cc – 4 stroke) class with talented riders Andrea Locatelli (16, from Alzano Lombardo) and Michael Rinaldi (17, Rimini, Emilia-Romagna). Locatelli ended Rounds 1 and 2 with a fantastic twin podium finish. While winning the first, he finished the second in third position. Rinaldi finished eighth in the first encounter and a respectable sixth in the second.
Mahindra’s bold decision to take on the world’s best at the highest level of motorcycle racing won the team prestigious awards such as the ‘ZigWheels Motorsport Award of the Year, 2012’, and the NDTV Car and Bike Awards ‘Mobil 1 Motorsport Award of the Year, 2012’.
For further information please visit: www.mahindraracing.com.
About Mahindra
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions that power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles and increase business efficiency.
A USD 16.2 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 155,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, after-market,information technology and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries.
In 2012, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. In 2013, the Mahindra Group received the Financial Times ‘Boldness in Business’ Award in the ‘Emerging Markets’ category.
Visit us at www.mahindra.com.
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Efren Vazquez-of Mahindra Racing who finished 5th in Catalunya GP ahead of his teammate. A Mahindra Racing photo. -
Mahindras’ Oliveira claims front row: Moto GP
Circuit de Catalunya, 15 June 2013: Mahindra rider Miguel Oliveira claimed his second front-row start of the year for Sunday’s Catalunyan GP. Team-mate Efren Vazquez will start directly behind him, qualifying a best-yet sixth to put international motorcycle racing’s only Indian team in a strong position for tomorrow’s race.
Rising teenage Portuguese star Oliveira is fresh from fourth place in Italy after challenging throughout. The more experienced Spaniard Vazquez is back after pulling out of that race, recovering from collar-bone surgery.
Both are riding the first development version of the Mahindra MGP3O Moto3™ machine. Engine performance and aerodynamics have both been enhanced as development of the brand-new bike continues apace. The white-and-red streamliner is in only its sixth race.
Today’s qualifying continues a positive trend for the Mahindra squad. Six months after the bike first hit the drawing board, shake-down tests proved speed and reliability; results have improved race by race. At the same time the first developments were undergoing thorough tests, before finding their way to the race-track at Catalunya.
The result underlines Mahindra’s growing credibility and status in the paddock, and has further quickened interest in the machine from other teams, interested in the prospect of running the MGP3O in next year’s series.
“We have the infrastructure for supplying the MGP3O to other Moto3 teams next year as per the Moto3 regulations for 2014,” explains Mahindra Racing CEO Mufaddal Choonia. “It’s quite an exciting time in the paddock because we are getting approaches from a number of teams interested in Mahindra and the possibility of using the MGP3O as their official bike next season. And it would be extremely satisfying to see more Mahindra MGP3Os on the grid. It would certainly make us proud.”
Tomorrow’s race is the sixth of 17 rounds in the Moto3 championship.
MIGUEL OLIVEIRA – Third place, 1’51.540
After free practice we made some changes to the bike, and I was in a good group so I could get a good lap.Tomorrow will be difficult for sure – another big group fight, and tough over 23 laps. I have to be smart and conserve my strength. While the team has been doing a good job developing the bike, I am also developing myself. The first job tomorrow is to finish the race, we’ll have to wait and see what position it is.
EFREN VAZQUEZ – Sixth place, 151.952
I’m very happy and a little bit surprised: my collar-bone is still in eight parts. I have a little pain … but I am from Bilbao! I’ve been training at home, and I feel good that I can fight tomorrow. The team is improving all the time. At each race the bike and the performance get better. Having both on the front two rows is important to the team, and for our race results.
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Mahindra Racing’s hard work pays off
Mugello, 2 June 2013: Mahindra rider Miguel Oliveira claimed the only Indian motorcycle grand prix team’s best yet finish at Mugello on Sunday with a hard-fought fourth place, and added a new lap record to the books.
But the Portuguese star was “a little disappointed”: after leading at the mid-point of the race he missed the top-three podium by less than half a second, a Mahindra Racing press release said.
The podium is the next target, but the team had more than enough to celebrate in Italy. The exclusive and all-new Mahindra MGP3O is in only its fifth race after being designed and built in just six months. Already the aim to join the front runners has been achieved.
The race was a thriller from the start, with the Moto3™ pack jostling for position on the fast and sweeping 5.245-km Mugello circuit. Oliveira started from the second row and was ninth into the first corner, but 7th and climbing by the end of the lap.
He set a new lap record on the fourth lap, and next time round was third. From then on played a major role in a six-strong group that broke away for an enthralling battle to the end. They swapped positions constantly, with Miguel taking his turn up front on lap 15.
The final shoot-out had the crowd holding its breath. Victory went to Luis Salom (KTM) by just 0.099 of a second, with the similarly mounted Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales in his wheeltracks, and Miguel inches behind. Alex Marquez and pole starter Jonas Folger (both KTM) were still close, the top five covered by eight tenths. Wild card and grand prix first-timer Andrea Locatelli was 22nd, in the thick of a tight pack chasing 15th position, with ten riders crossing the line in just over two seconds.
Team regular Efrén Vázquez, still recuperating from collarbone surgery less than two weeks ago, withdrew from the race, but expects to return in better condition at Catalunya in a fortnight. Mahindra Racing CEO Mufaddal Choonia explained: “The team decided Efrén needed a bit more time to recover, and it was prudent not to start, and risk further injury.”
Today’s result regained a clear third place in the Constructor’s Championship for the marque, while Oliveira gained significant ground, now lying seventh overall.
MIGUEL OLIVEIRA – Fourth Place
“It was a difficult race – on the limit every lap to stay with the front group. The slipstream is very important here, so I couldn’t risk losing contact. I’m a little bit upset not to reach the podium, but happy with the whole weekend: good qualifying and race. At the last race I fell while with the front group, and we were up front again here. It gives plenty of motivation to keep pushing for more.”Copyright © 2013 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. All rights reserved.ANDREA LOCATELLI – 22nd Place
“My first grand prix was quite an experience, fighting with a big group of more experienced riders. The Mahindra was good all weekend, and helped me to keep my place. I am happy with this start.”MUFADDAL CHOONIA – CEO Mahindra Racing
“Delighted with the result. We were running a little thirsty this weekend because we had no points at the last race. For the moment, the thirst has been quenched. Hats off to Miguel with a fantastic ride, and hats off to the technical team who put together a bike that could help him stay with the leading group throughout the race, and fight for the podium. We know where we have to work to improve, and we will be back to the drawing board to find what’s missing. The bike is strong already, and it is always harder to find improvements when you are already at a high level. We look forward to Catalunya, and hope Efrén will be back to full fitness and racing at this next round.”ends
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Sarath signs for Monlau for Spanish Moto3
Chennai, 6 Feb 2013: Indian 2-wheeler sensation Sarath Kumar has been confirmed to race for Monlau Competicion in the 2013 Spanish Moto 3 Championship. This was announced on Wednesday at the glitzy launch of sports management firm SK-Sarath69, which is promoted by renowned South Indian actor and politician, R Sarath Kumar. SK-Sarath69 Sports Private Limited has been launched with the aim of helping and promoting young sportspersons in India.
Young rider Sarath Kumar, who is the only Indian to have competed at the pinnacle of two wheeler racing events, MotoGP, will race in an international series for the third consecutive year. While he made his MotoGP 125cc class debut in 2011, he participated in the Italian Championship 125GP Class in 2012 with a podium finish at the historic Monza circuit. The Spanish Moto 3 Championship has been the stepping stone for many current MotoGP riders, including Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez.
The 21-year old rider Sarath Kumar was confident of making an impact in the Spanish Moto 3 Championship. He commented, “First of all I would like to thank Mr. R Sarath Kumar for making all this possible. He is committed to helping youngsters and is playing an active role in helping me succeed. It is a dream come true to race in the Spanish Moto 3 championship, considering the great riders who have participated in the same. Monlau Competicion is a winning team and I hope I can help them continue their winning ways. The more experience I get the more confident I feel and the faster I go. This is a huge opportunity for me so I hope I can make my country proud.”
Last year Monlau Competicion won the Spanish Moto 3 Championship with Alex Marquez, younger brother of MotoGP rider Marc Marquez. Sarath will be riding the Suter-Honda Moto3, which is a 250cc 4-stroke prototype race bike developed for the Moto3 world championship. This prototype is powered by a Honda engine. Starting with the 2012 season, the Moto3-class replaced the 125-cc 2-stroke class in FIM premier championship of motorcycle road racing which existed since 1949.
Jaime Serrano, Executive Director, Monlau Competicion, commented, “India is definitely becoming a hot destination for motorsports and we are pleased to announce our partnership with SK-Sarath69 and their young rider Sarath Kumar. From what we have seen of him we are highly impressed and believe he has what it takes to go all the way. We will work closely in all areas to ensure he improves as a rider and is in a position to fight for victories.”
SK-Sarath69 was founded with the intention of promoting and nurturing promising talent from India to prepare them for the rigors of international competition. The company will focus on talent from all sporting disciplines with the first project focusing on motorsports.
R Sarath Kumar, Chairman, SK-Sarath69, is a strong believer in promoting the youth of the country and is thrilled to be a part of this initiative. He commented, “India, as a sporting nation is at a very nascent stage, and the youth will play an integral role in taking it to the next level. While there is no dearth of talent in India, it is important that these young sportsmen are developed and groomed the right way. Our goal is to prepare young sportspersons to compete on an international scale, with the right training, financial backing and guidance.
We are proud to announce young rider S. Sarath Kumar as our first signing and even more excited to confirm his participation in the Spanish Moto 3 Championship with Monlau Competicion. Sarath is supremely talented and we need to give him the best possible opportunity to win races. We are also happy to work with Rajini Krishnan, who recently made history by becoming the first Indian rider to win an international motorcycle event. With Sarath and Rajini we have the two best Indian riders and we intend to help them get to the top step of the podium.” added R. Sarath Kumar.
Ramji Govindarajan, Executive Director, SK-Sarath69, commented, “Most Indian sportsmen have one thing in common – lack of funds and guidance. We want to ensure that these youngsters are given their chance to present themselves at the highest level. While our first project is motorcycle racing, our long term goal is to help as many sportsmen as possible, be it in athletics, badminton, tennis etc. We are really happy that Monlau Competicion has signed on Sarath and placed their faith in his abilities. We will confirm Rajini’s plans shortly as well which looks set to kick off with Asia’s premier Superbike racing category, the Asia Road Racing Championship for 2013.”
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Rider Sarath Kumar (left) with actor Sarath Kumar and another promising rider Rajini at the launch of SK Sarath 69, a sports company on Wednesday in Chennai. Adrenna photo.
