Aspar Mahindra signs Dalla Porta for 2017

A former CIV 125 GP champion, Dalla Porta has already made 11 Moto3 starts, after his debut last year in Italy, abode the KTM.

Dalla Porta then switched to Husqvarna in the same season and notched his best finish of eighth in Silverstone.

Most recently, the Italian competed in this year’s Dutch TT, amassing a 10th place finish for Estrella Galicia, on the Honda.

“It’s a great honour for me to be a part of a major company like Mahindra,’’ he said after the announcement.

“I know with them I will be a proper factory rider and to be inside a team with as strong a history as Aspar is wonderful.”

“You need these things in a championship as hard as the Moto3 World Championship. We know that the bike can fight and can win; Pecco has shown what the MGP3O can do.”

“I’m excited to get on the bike but right now I’m focussing on the CEV championship, I want to join Mahindra as a champion and keep winning once I arrive,’’ he added.

The 19-year-old currently races in the Moto3 CEV championship, where he sits at the top of the standings following four wins in the first five rounds.

Mahindra Racing, CEO, Mufaddal Choonia added: “Lorenzo Dalla Porta has shown himself to be a very strong rider with his appearances in the World Championship and his title challenge in the CEV.

“It’s a thrilling prospect to have a potential Junior World Champion riding a Mahindra next year.

"We have already started working on the 2017 bike and with Dalla Porta on board we’re looking forward to another great year with Aspar, our partnership continuing to go from strength to strength."

Aspar's CEO and former rider Jorge Martinez also commented: “Dalla Porta is a young rider who last year has already had his first foray in the World Championship.

"He has the potential to do great things with the Mahindra Aspar Team. I hope that we keep developing and staying up to date, to continue the trend and be able to count on a motorcycle, a rider and a competitive team to make great results next year.”

Mahindra is yet to confirm Dalla Porta’s teammate for 2017. While Francesco Bagnaia has been tipped for move up to Moto2, Jorge Martin should stay for another year in Moto3.