Mahindra gears up for Assen

The Mahindra team is heading to Assen in the Netherlands in a determined frame of mind this weekend. A disappointing weekend at Silverstone culminated in a setback for Danny Webb at his home GP, the latest in a series of technical issues facing the team this season.
 
Mahindra Racing has had a tough introduction to the new four-stroke Moto3 series. However, the determination to turn things around remains high and  the team is currently assessing its strategy while continuing with a program of planned upgrades to the MGP-30 machine.
 
As CEO Mufaddal Choonia emphatically confirmed from the team’s Italian headquarters, one thing has not changed - Mahindra’s strong commitment to a long-term racing future.
 
“We understand the challenges faced by our team and riders,” said Choonia. “The Mahindra MGP-30 motorcycle handles well, but there are technical issues that need to be sorted out. Attempts by our engine partner to improve the situation have not had the desired result, although we hope some new parts for Assen will help the riders exploit the bike’s strong points.
 
“We are committed to the current program for the rest of this season. We will stick with it, keep working and, perhaps most importantly, keep learning. That is the Mahindra philosophy. We also maintain our belief in the principle of developing our own independent design and engineering as, in the long run, we are confident that this will provide the greatest benefit to our company from the race program,” the CEO continued.
 
The Dutch TT is the seventh round, held at the shorter (2.822-mile / 4.542km) modern version of the classic Assen circuit, which earned the title “Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing”. Unusually, the race is on Saturday, with Moto3 back to its usual slot as first race of the day.