Mahindra takes step forward at Assen

Mahindra riders Danny Webb and Marcel Schrötter took a step forward with new engine parts at Assen. But the hard work of the independent Indian team was not rewarded with final results, with both riders failing to make the finish.
 
In Danny’s case it was a crash, on the 16th of 22 laps of the 2.8-mile Dutch TT circuit at Assen, as he was beginning to move forward towards the points after placing 12th in morning warm-up. The 21-year-old Briton was lying 22nd in a big group, having just gained two places. The rear wheel locked, but team manager Nicola Casadei confirmed after the race there was no engine problem.
 
Marcel, nursing a broken right finger from a motocross mishap last weekend, was in the next group, and working at holding his position when he was sidelined by a clutch problem with two laps to go.
 
The race was close from front to back, narrowly won by Spanish rider Maverick Vinales. The Mahindra MGP-30 is one of a small handful of fully independent machines, on a quest to challenge the established production racers making up the bulk of the new-this-year Moto3 class.
 
In eight days the Mahindra pair race again in Germany, in the middle of three consecutive race weekends.