Danny Webb keeps Mahindra in the hunt

KUALA LUMPUR: There was hope after a good start but once Team Mahindra Racing's 18-year-old German rider Marcel Schrotter took a tumble on the sixth lap of the Malaysian Moto GP (125cc) at the Sepang circuit, it was left to his senior partner, 20-year-old Briton Danny Webb to pump up the volume and he did it creditably well.
In what was a highly challenging and close-finish contest, Danny jumped two positions in the 18th and final lap to finish 13th.
The close finish also saw a reversal of results for the big guns with the almost-certain Spaniard and championship leader Nicolas Terol losing control with half-a-lap to go, to finish fifth. His countrymate, Maverick Vinales (Blusens, Paris Hilton Racing) seized the chance to win the race in 40 mins and 34 secs.
A top-10 finish was what Team Mahindra was looking at but what Danny did was no less, for he gained three valuable championship points to strengthen their third place in the constructors' championship. The Indian racing team was the only machine on the 125cc grid with both engine and chassis developed in-house. Mahindra now have 16 points with only the Spanish leg remaining.
Schrotter was battling to get into the top 10 when he high-sided out of the final corner. He was a close 12th when the rear of his bike let go, sending him into the air. He was unhurt, but unhappy after what he considers a rare crash. It also denied him a chance to cement his championship position. He remains tied on 15th.
"We made a big step at the last race in Australia, so I'm slightly disappointed with the result, but Danny really pulled it off for us," said team principal Mufaddal Choonia. "He gained two positions from where he was at the beginning of the lap. So 13th position is a good effort, but we are aiming to be in the top-10 by the end of our debut season." The final round of the championship is the Valencia GP in Spain in two weeks.