Mahindra riders push hard at Sepang

KUALA LUMPUR: On a sweltering Saturday at the Sepang circuit, Team Mahindra's riders tested themselves hard on what they claim to be a tough track given its long straights and sharp turns. Danny Webb (20, English) and Marcel Schrotter (18, German) both did well to qualify in 12th and 16th places.
This is Team Mahindra's debut season in MotoGP and their young riders have given them a fine headstart.They had a double points finish in the last leg at Melbourne. With track temperatures rising to 46°C, Webb began on used tyres and pushed the 125cc bike to optimum levels to match seasoned and fancied rivals. Despite the efforts, Webb couldn't improve on his time.
Schrotter too did the same, changing tyres in the first pit stop, but soon he found a 'tow', a slower rider balked him on the flying lap and ruined his chance to move into the top ten. Speaking of the show and the main race on Sunday, Webb said, "Given that we are here for the first time, we have done well. Our bikes are a bit less on horse power, we will need to work on our race pace."
He expects rain on Sunday though added that a wet track would not make much of a difference to their approach. A candid Schrotter admitted that his plan to catch others in time didn't work.
"So I just went alone and tried to push to the limit. I did the whole lap alone and did two times in a row nearly the same, so it's not so bad. I could have a good race."
In the end, the German came good, his fast lap came on his 14th of 15 near the end of qualifying. This being the second last race of the season (Valencia, Spain is the last), Schrötter should cement his 15th position in the championship in the absence of the rival with whom he's currently tied on points.
For Team Mahindra, the clincher would be the third place in the Constructors' Championship in their first season and they seem to be on track.
The Malaysian Grand Prix is something of a home race, with the Sepang International Circuit the closest race venue to the headquarters of the Mahindra Group's diversified international empire.