Impressive finish for Team Mahindra at Moto3 world championship

Miguel Oliveira secured Mahindra's best result of the season so far in the Moto3 world championship by finishing fourth at the Mugello grand prix here on Sunday.

The Portuguese star though was a little disappointed as he missed the podium by less than half a second.

The race was a thriller from the start, with the Moto3™ pack jostling for position on the fast and sweeping 5.245-km Mugello circuit.

Oliveira started from the second row and was ninth into the first corner, but seventh and climbing by the end of the lap.

He set a new lap record on the fourth lap, and next time round was third. From then on played a major role in a six-strong group that broke away for an enthralling battle to the end. They swapped positions constantly, with Miguel taking his turn up front on lap 15.

"It was a difficult race - on the limit every lap to stay with the front group. The slipstream is very important here, so I couldn't risk losing contact. I'm a little bit upset not to reach the podium, but happy with the whole weekend: good qualifying and race. At the last race I fell while with the front group, and we were up front again here. It gives plenty of motivation to keep pushing for more," Oliveira said.