Mahindra Racing completed their second pre-season test for the 2013 Moto3 world championship on Monday. The group test at Spain’s Jerez circuit — venue for the third round of this year’s MotoGP season — saw the Indian team’s two new riders complete the test with the fifth and eighth fastest times of the 33 Moto3 participants.
Three days for Mahindra’s all-new MGP-3O were marred by rain on the final day that led to an early finish for the team.
Portuguese teenager Miguel Oliveira recorded the fifth fastest time of the test (1’47.958). The 17-year-old from Pragal, near Lisbon, was impressively quick in the wet conditions despite a fall.
“I am really happy that we had the opportunity to continue the job started in Valencia,” he said. “I am pleased with the way we are working and I am learning so much about the bike and my team. We are on a good path and are ready to fight.
“Our immediate area of focus is to find a good set up for the bike and doing our job without looking at the other teams and riders. We need to give the best.”
Experienced Spanish rider Efrén Vázquez was eighth fastest in Jerez (1’48.327). “I am really happy with the bike and everything is going better than expected. It has all changed since last year and the expectations and thinking are very positive.”