MSD R-N Supersport Team unveils new identity
After changing its name to Mahi Racing Team India, the former MSD R-N Racing India World Supersport team has now presented its new riders for the 2013 season on home ground in a launch in Mumbai, India.
After ending this season with a podium finish for Dan Linfoot at the final round, the team, owned by India's cricketing team's superstar captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (the "Mahi" in the team name), unveiled its a new identity and announced two new riders to the Indian media. The team has been renamed Mahi Racing Team India and their Kawasaki ZX-6R bikes will sport a new logo and livery for the upcoming season.
As previously reported Mahi Racing's rider line-up next year will be triple WSS champion Kenan Sofouglu and former winner Fabien Foret, who will join existing members Dan Linfoot and Florian Marino. Signed by Kawasaki as its factory team, with technical direction in the hands of Andrew Stone, the Mahi Racing Team riders will be testing the Ninja ZX-6R bikes during the winter and next year will be aiming for the 2013 championship title.
Arun Pandey, Chairman and Managing Director of the Mahi Racing Team, declared: "We were targeting mid-table finishes to form a base for the next season. But the team put up a sterling performance and created history by pulling off a podium finish after just five rounds. Our rider Dan Linfoot finished a remarkable third in Magny-Cours, France. Our crew did an outstanding job by setting up the team in such a short time."
A lot of hopes and expectations will be surrounding Mahi Racing Team, India's first foray into the production-based racing categories, especially in view of the Indian Round of the World Superbike and World Supersport championships next year at the Buddh International Circuit near New Delhi on March 10.
