A lot of eyebrows were raised when Mahindra ventured into the MotoGP 125cc category, but within a year the team had achieved considerable success and silenced the critics with their performances. The mind behind that success is Mufaddal Choonia, the team principal. His upbeat nature and commitment to the team have helped make Mahindra Racing a force to be reckoned with globally. The team made a great start to the season in the Italian Championship, winning back-to-back races to sit at the top of the table.
In an interview with Samikshan Dutta Choudhury of Indian Sports News, Choonia speaks about the team, its riders, their goals in the Italian Championship and more. Excerpts:
ISN: You had a dream start to the season in the Italian Championship. So how is the atmosphere within the team?
Choonia: It is a fantastic feeling that the team has won in the championship. This is the first time any Indian team has finished on the podium in a major competition like this. Two in a row is just fantastic, and we are now seriously looking forward to the next races.
ISN: What does Mahindra Racing have that has helped it burst onto the scene and become a force to be reckoned with in motorsport?
Choonia: Well, there are a few things, but the foremost is the commitment and focus of the team towards this venture. There is a lot of passion behind the team and we mean serious business. We are here not just to race but to perform better and win. Having the backing of such a large company also helps us in the cause.
ISN: Did you have any predetermined goals that you wanted to achieve this season?
Choonia: No, to be honest, we never started with any predetermined goals. We just wanted to go out there and perform to the best of our capabilities. We knew that if we did that, the points would come.
ISN: Now that you are leading the Italian Championship, do you still have the same goal?
Choonia: No, now we will push a little harder and try to win the Italian Championship. As for Moto3, it is a different ball game and we will try to perform to the best of our capacity.
ISN: How well did the team adapt to the new guidelines and rules after the 125cc category of MotoGP was replaced by Moto3?
Choonia: Well, it was not something that happened to us all of a sudden. We knew about it and were preparing for it.
ISN: Coming back to the Italian Championship, do you think Mahindra can win it?
Choonia: We are very optimistic about that and we want to finish on the podium more and more. We are confident but not over-ambitious. We just hope to give it our best shot.
ISN: What do you think of the Indian rider Sarath Kumar?
Choonia: Well, he is a very good racer. We see a lot of potential in him and that is why we brought him on board. I am sure he can go on to be successful at higher-level events around the world.
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News
