Rain-shine for Mahindra Racing in MotoGP

MUMBAI: The conditions were tough. It didn't pour, but the consistent drizzle was strong enough to make the already damp Jerez track even more slippery.
Mahindra Racing, however, mastered the conditions well to not only finish among the top-15, but also take home their first World Championship points in only their second race, at the Spanish MotoGP on Saturday.
German rider Marcel Schratter picked his way through from a modest start after qualifying 23rd, and as others fell victim to the demanding conditions, the 18-year-old began to negotiate his way forward. After 15 of 23 laps of the 4.423km-Jerez circuit in Spain, he had moved from 24th to a points-scoring 13th.
It could have been even better had not their other rider, England's Danny Webb - who had made a blazing start from 19th on the grid to reach 11th in no time - crashed out in the 10th lap. Webb sprained his ankle badly and picked up a bruise on his forehead due to the high-speed crash, and was not able to rejoin the race.
"I started well, but the group was coming at me from behind, and I was pushing very hard to keep ahead. My back tyre was sliding, maybe the setting was a bit soft. Then it suddenly let go and I spun out. I'm not badly hurt, and will come back stronger for the next one. These things happen," Webb was to say later.
Mahindra Racing are next in action at the Portuguese Grand Prix on May 1.