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Mahindra to exit Moto3 at end of 2017

Mahindra Racing will exit Moto3 as a manufacturer at the end of this season, it has been announced.

Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Aspar Team

Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Aspar Team

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Mahindra joined the junior class of MotoGP in 2011 as a team, before focusing its efforts on being a bike and engine supplier from 2015 onwards.

The Indian manufacturer enjoyed a breakthrough 2016 season as its won three races, the first of which coming exactly a year ago at Assen, and Francesco Bagnaia took fourth in the standings.

However, Mahindra's performance has nosedived this year, with its three outfits failing to score points in four of the first seven races of this season.

Mahindra attributes its Moto3 exit to a shift in strategy towards electric mobility and Formula E, where it scored its first ever victory in Berlin ePrix earlier this month.

“Formula E is providing us with an excellent international platform to raise awareness of the Mahindra Group, our technological capabilities and our mobility solutions on a global scale,” explained Ruzbeh Irani, Mahindra Group’s President of Group Communications & Ethics, and Chief Brand Officer.

“Our strategic review of Mahindra Racing and Mahindra’s two-wheeler businesses led us to the decision to withdraw from MotoGP. It has been a tremendous journey, and we would like to thank all of our staff, partners and collaborators who have contributed to our success during our seven years in the sport.”

Mahindra currently supplies bikes to the factory-supported Aspar squad, customer outfit CIP and sister brand Peugeot.

The move can also be seen as a way of clearing up funds for a potential assault in Dakar with a modified version of Super XUV500, which is currently being used in the Indian Rally Championship.

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