MotoGP 125: Indian manufacturer plans 2011 entry

Mahindra and Mahindra to enter 125cc World Championship?

The final year of the 125cc World Championship could feature a new manufacturer, with Indian brand Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) planning a 2011 entry.

This category [125cc] is relevant to people in India as the bulk of the bikes [sold here] are in the 110cc and 125cc," siliconindia.com quotes Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra group as saying.

"The advertising in the recent Football World Cup [for the group's technology arm Mahindra Satyam] made us understand the power of global branding and benefited the group.

"So this is an interesting sequential chapter to our global branding effort."

A formal announcement on M&M's 125cc grand prix plans should be made "shortly".

India will host its first F1 race next October and there are rumours that the country could join the MotoGP calendar.

Five manufacturers scored points in this year's 125cc World Championship: Derbi and Aprilia (both owned by Piaggio), Honda, KTM and Lambretta.

A new four-stroke Moto3 class will replace 125cc from 2012.

p/s - will out Modenas can ever been in MotoGP... we once have KR1 by Proton before... what the heck happened to the wreck ???