CHENNAI: Mahindra Racing are on a roll. After the high of a first-ever double points finish by German Marcel Schrotter and Brit Danny Webb for the Indian team in the MotoGP 125cc race last week at the Dutch TT in Assen, they have all the reasons for being confident of improving further in Italy, their base.
Schrotter recorded Mahindra's first top-10 finish with a ninth place at Assen while Webb crossed the chequered flag 13th. Both the riders have now tasted points in the series and the team management is looking to build on that momentum going into the Italian GP at the picturesque Mugello Circuit this weekend.
Apart from the chance to prove their worth at the home base in Mugello, Mahindra think-thank has another reason to feel excited about the Italian GP, the eighth of the 17-round world championship.
The 5.245-km track has been relaid and the Mahindra pair is hoping the circuit's sustained speed will suit their machine: the only one on the grid with both engine and chassis built by the team.
Mahindra team manager Nicola Casadei was his cautious best while explaining the team's chances in Italy. "Last weekend, the Mahindra bikes ran perfectly, the riders also. Mugello is a challenging track, but we are getting stronger all the time, so we can expect a better performance," he said.
Schrotter, who was the hero for Mahindra at the Dutch TT, felt he has become very comfortable with the bike and believes that familiarity has given him confidence to push further.
"My feeling with the bike has really come better over the last two races, and my pace is good enough for more top-ten finishes. I want to keep going the same way in Italy, and be stronger in the early laps," said the 19-year-old.
His teammate Webb loves Mugello. "Yet another race where I like the track and I like the place. If our engine goes well at the top end, and there are those fast bends where you can really keep the speed up. It should be another good race," said the 20-year-old Brit, indicating that a top-10 finish for both the riders is a realistic goal for the team.
Schrotter is currently 19th in the standings with 10 points while Webb (8 points) is three rungs below. Aprilia rider Nicolas Terol, who was injured in Assen after a crash during practice, lost a bit of his advantage in the standings to German Jonas Folger. But the Spaniard (128 points) still has a healthy lead over Folger (101), who also rides an Aprilia.
Meanwhile, it will be yet another testing weekend for WTR-Ten10 Racing, the other Indian team in the fray.
Ten10 will again field young Dutch rider Sturla Fagerhaug in place of the injured Indian rider Sarath Kumar while the team's senior rider - Italian Francesco Mauriello - will be looking to have a decent race at home.
Schrotter recorded Mahindra's first top-10 finish with a ninth place at Assen while Webb crossed the chequered flag 13th. Both the riders have now tasted points in the series and the team management is looking to build on that momentum going into the Italian GP at the picturesque Mugello Circuit this weekend.
Apart from the chance to prove their worth at the home base in Mugello, Mahindra think-thank has another reason to feel excited about the Italian GP, the eighth of the 17-round world championship.
The 5.245-km track has been relaid and the Mahindra pair is hoping the circuit's sustained speed will suit their machine: the only one on the grid with both engine and chassis built by the team.
Mahindra team manager Nicola Casadei was his cautious best while explaining the team's chances in Italy. "Last weekend, the Mahindra bikes ran perfectly, the riders also. Mugello is a challenging track, but we are getting stronger all the time, so we can expect a better performance," he said.
Schrotter, who was the hero for Mahindra at the Dutch TT, felt he has become very comfortable with the bike and believes that familiarity has given him confidence to push further.
"My feeling with the bike has really come better over the last two races, and my pace is good enough for more top-ten finishes. I want to keep going the same way in Italy, and be stronger in the early laps," said the 19-year-old.
His teammate Webb loves Mugello. "Yet another race where I like the track and I like the place. If our engine goes well at the top end, and there are those fast bends where you can really keep the speed up. It should be another good race," said the 20-year-old Brit, indicating that a top-10 finish for both the riders is a realistic goal for the team.
Schrotter is currently 19th in the standings with 10 points while Webb (8 points) is three rungs below. Aprilia rider Nicolas Terol, who was injured in Assen after a crash during practice, lost a bit of his advantage in the standings to German Jonas Folger. But the Spaniard (128 points) still has a healthy lead over Folger (101), who also rides an Aprilia.
Meanwhile, it will be yet another testing weekend for WTR-Ten10 Racing, the other Indian team in the fray.
Ten10 will again field young Dutch rider Sturla Fagerhaug in place of the injured Indian rider Sarath Kumar while the team's senior rider - Italian Francesco Mauriello - will be looking to have a decent race at home.
Read More: Mahindra upbeat ahead of home race
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