The exciting race weekend concluded with Valentino Rossi clinching is his first victory of the 2016 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. Meanwhile, Aspar Mahindra rider Pecco Bagnaia claimed his second top-three podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix Moto3 this weekend (April 24). Bagnaia had put the Mahindra MGP3O in third place at the opening round in Qatar. The Spanish podium return marks the start of the European season, and confirms the confidence of the only Indian constructor in the World Championship that the more traditional and technical European circuits will better suit the sweet handling of the all-new 250cc racer.
With machine development still at an early stage, Aspar Mahindra riders Bagnaia and Jorge Martin had kept the points coming in over the next two races in Argentina and the USA; and hopes were high for a strong result in Spain after Bagnaia qualified a strong fourth. The 19-year-old Italian was promoted to the front row when pole qualifier Brad Binder (KTM) was put to the back for a technical infringement.
Bagnaia led on the track twice over the 23 laps of the 4.423-km circuit in the south of Spain, holding on strongly and awaiting a last-lap climax as a three-bike battle became four-way when Binder caught up. The South African managed to move clear to claim a classic career first win, riding from last to first.
The next round is the French GP at Le Mans, another twisty circuit where Bagnaia finished third on the 2015 Mahindra MGP3O.