Catalunya 2011

After a troubled warm up session where Danny didn't feel comfortable with the bike, Danny lined up on the grid in 14th spot.

14th was Danny's best starting position for the team this season and a good race to his first points was hoped for.

Sadly, in the first sector, on the first lap, Danny was tagged from behind going into turn 5.

Danny slid to the gravel trap and despite being ok, he couldn't restart and his race was over.

Danny said:

I'm hugely disappointed with the outcome, we were looking strong for a good finish.

These things happen and nobody intentionally causes an accident so it's just racing.

Apart from my own disapointment, I really feel sorry for my mechanics and the team. Recent hard work has improved our bike and we didn't get the chance to show the results.

I can't wait now for Silverstone, it's my home race and I'm going to be 'really on it'. I was at the opening of the new 'Wing' paddock complex recently and it looked fantastic.

Danny returns to a track he knows well for the fifth round of the Championship at the Montmelo circuit, just north of Barcelona for the Catalunya MotoGP

Free practice 1, early on Friday morning began with a mechanical problem resulting in Danny getting very little running in the session. Danny finished the session, outside the 107% qualifying position, in 33rd with a time of 2'02.300''

Free practice 2, just after midday was a complete reversal of fortune. Danny consistantly ran in the top 10 throughout, demonstrating the hard work performed by the team back at the factory over the last couple of weeks. By the end of the session Danny had put in the 11th fastest time of 1'57.350''

In the final free practice session on Saterday morning Danny continued to improve his time to 1'56.291''

At midday Danny prepared for qualifying and once out on track continued to demonstrate the Mahindra teams improvement, consistantly sitting in a top 10 position.

By the end of the qualifying session Danny had further improved on his fastest lap setting a 1'53.640'', which places him 14th on the grid for tomorrows race.

Danny said:

It’s a new team, but me and them are getting on really well now. It takes time to bond. I hope we can make more progress in the coming races – the engine is really good on speed: just needs a little more bottom-end performance

I have really noticed the work the team has done over the last couple of weeks, the bike is much improved and this can be seen as both Marcel annd i have delivered our best qualifying performance of the season so far

We are stronger than we have been so far this season and i'm looking forward to tomorrows race, where i hope to be scoring my first points for the team.