GREMLINS STOP MORETTI IN PHILIP ISLAND

Phillip Island – Sunday, 28 October, 2012: The weekend finished early for the sole Mahindra rider Riccardo Moretti, after three days when electrical problems complicated the 27–year–old Italian racer’s task at the Phillip Island circuit south of Melbourne.

With team–mate Danny Webb sidelined on the first day due to problems with his motor, Moretti had the task of learning the complex 4.448–km circuit at the same time as mechanics were hunting down an electronic glitch.

Unfortunately the gremlin struck again on the first lap of the Moto3™ race, and he retired.

The Mahindra team expects to come back strongly for the final round in Valencia in two weeks, with technical upgrades waiting to help them to a strong finish to the pioneering Indian team’s first Moto3 season, one of a tiny handful on the grid developing an independent engine and motorcycle from scratch.

“This has been a disappointing weekend but we’ll take some valuable lessons from it,” explained Mahindra Racing CEO Mufaddal Choonia. “We’ll come back stronger in Valencia where we shall also announce our 2013 rider line–up. Work on the new Mahindra Moto3 bike continues apace with Suter Racing Technology, and we are expecting significant steps forward next year.”

RICCARDO MORETTI – Did Not Finish
Not much to say: we’ve struggled all weekend and the struggles went on for the race. In racing, you have to take the rough with the smooth.

DANNY WEBB – Did Not Start
For me, it’s one to forget. The Mahindra MGP–30 is a sweet–handling bike and this would have been a good track for us, but it was not to be. Now it’s full throttle for Valencia in two weeks.