Mahindra aims for one better in Sepang Malaysia
Fresh from the team’s best double result in its first year of GP racing, Mahindra riders Danny Webb and Marcel Schrötter relished swapping the biting cold of Australia’s Phillip Island for the sultry tropical heat of Malaysia for the penultimate round of the World Championship.
Both riders are on top form, and ready to take the next step – to get both of the ever-improving Mahindra 125 machines in the top ten.
They were just one position away from achieving the goal in Australia, with Webb (20, from England) tenth and Schrötter (18, from Germany) less than two seconds behind in 11th. The two striking silver-and-red Mahindras – the only bikes on the grid with both engine and chassis built by the team – were close together all race long.
Sepang offers a very different climate from Phillip Island, but some similarities in the nature of the circuit, with only two slow corners at each end of the start-finish straight. The remainder of the 5.548-km lap comprises mainly medium-speed and fast corners, where a good rider on a sweet-handling bike can make up ground.
This should play into the hands of the Mahindra pair, anxious for a good result at the closest the Indian-owned racing team currently gets to the headquarters of the Mahindra Group’s diversified international empire.
There are two other important goals, with the end of the season fast approaching.
The first is for rider Schrötter, currently equal on points for 15th overall. With his rival absent injured, the young German still needs to add to his total to be sure of the position.
The second is for the Mahindra team, in its first season: to consolidate its third position in the Constructors’ Championship. After the Malaysian GP there is just one race left at Valencia, before the 125 class closes its doors to be replaced in 2012 by 250cc four-strokes. Mahindra’s advantage over established rival KTM is a strong 17 points.
The Sepang circuit, also used for the Formula One GP, lies adjacent to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Blazing heat and saturating humidity are its two most salient features.
MARCEL SCHRÖTTER
Sepang is a long and difficult track, and I’m not sure whether it will suit our bike – but the way it has been going we can aim to keep improving and do another good finish. My aim for this season was to be in the top 15 overall, so I will be pushing for points.
DANNY WEBB
I like the track, though I had a big crash there last year when somebody cut me off. The heat doesn’t bother me too much. We pulled it off in Australia, with a good race for both me and Marcel. Let’s see if we can do it again.
source: mahindra.com