Mahindra Misano Grand prix race report

moto3 Mahindra Misano Grand prix race report

San Marino Grand Prix race report

Top eight finish for Mahindra and Bagnaia

Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, 13 September 2015:

Mapfre Team Mahindra rider Franscesco Bagnaia rode to a determined eighth place in his home event at the Misano circuit, competing hard for a possible seventh at the head of the second main group of riders as the race reached its conclusion.

He was close behind Alexis Masbou at the flag after finding the race tough at the intense 4.2km Misano circuit, having qualified in 12th place, and being the top Mahindra rider.

Mapfre Team Mahindra rider Jorge Martin finished with a point for 15th place at Misano, having been on course for a better result until a clash with his team-mate Juanfran Guevara; going into the final corner caused Guevara to fall and Martin to run off track. Jorge qualified 15th, one place up on Guevara, but a three place gird penalty saw him starting from 18th place. The pair raced together to the end, Guevara no-scored.

At the front of the race five riders finally vied for position, with Danny Kent a lone sixth. Masbou and Bagnaia were just over three and a half seconds from the championship leader after he had dropped back to join the second group for a time. The race was won by Enea Bastianini, closing the points gap on Kent today.

Bagnaia is 12th in the championship, with 67 points and a season high point of third at Le Mans to his credit. Martin is 19th after scoring his single point today.

Motorland Aragon hosts the next round of the championship, in a fortnight.

FRANCESCO BAGNAIA – Eighth Place

It was a really difficult race because it was tough to overtake the riders on the straights. In the braking points I could overtake a lot of riders. In the last five or six laps I tried to open up a gap to the second group by going with Danny Kent but I was at the limit and it was not possible. In the last lap, when Masbou tried to overtake me, I tried to close the line to stop any overtaking opportunity, but I finished eighth. We are happy for this because another top ten was important for us. I think we can make better results but today it was not possible.

MUFADDAL CHOONIA – CEO, Mahindra Racing

We will take the result from Bagnaia. I think he had a brilliant fight and managed to finish in a respectable position. It again goes to show that if we had started a little higher in the race we would have probably been with the front group and fighting for the podium position, Overall this was a good weekend and we can go off from here feeling satisfied.

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