Mahindra's Oliveira finishes seventh in Czech Republic

Mahindra rider Miguel Oliveira held on to his position to finish seventh in an exciting Moto3 Czech Republic Grand Prix held at the Masaryk Circuit here Sunday.

The Portuguese teenager was just 0.356 seconds behind race winner Alexis Masbou (Honda) after 19 laps. The lead group was still 16-strong at the finish with the last rider in the pack less than two seconds from the winner, but out of points.

Oliveira had qualified a season-best fifth and was never below eighth in the race. However, with places changing hands on almost every corner of the 5.403 km track, final positions were something of a lottery.

He crossed the line almost alongside South African Brad Binder, riding the Ambrogio Racing customer Mahindra, who took sixth, putting two MGP3O machines in the top-10.

Second Mahindra Racing rider Arthur Sissis finished 26th in his final race for the team.

While Oliveira has posted a series of strong and improving results, the Australian has struggled to adapt to the style that gained him a top-3 finish in the past to suit the MGP3O.

The team also announced that Italian Andrea Migno will replace Sissis until the end of the season.