Mahindra joins hands with Italian team for racing

M&M will provide three bikes to Aspar, which is promoted by former racing champion Jorge Martinez

Mahindra Racing, India's only constructor in world motorcycle racing, has withdrawn from active racing in the Moto3 championship while announcing a tie-up with Italy-based Team Aspar which will be its home team.

M&M will provide three bikes to Aspar, which is promoted by former racing champion Jorge Martinez, in addition to back-end support.

The Mumbai-based company also has three other teams to whom it provides bikes. In all M&M will have nine bikes on the racing circuit. The inaugural race begins in Doha, next month.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, chief executive of Dorna Sports, which holds rights for MotoGP said that his firm is talking to authorities to bring the motorsports to India. In addition it is also finalising talks with television channels to broadcast the races in India.

Speaking to reporters Ezpeleta said, "There are logistics and permit issues as far as having a race in India is concerned. I have seen the Budh International Circuit and it is very impressive. If we are given the go ahead we can have the races right away."

M&M recently opened a research facility in Besozzo, Italy to develop race bike technology. It will act as a neural network for product development which will benefit M&M's commercial two-wheeler initiatives also. These are the motorcycles and scooters it plans to develop for the future.