News

Mahias: "I was pushing the whole race just to stay with the group"

Wednesday, 25 April 2018 15:37 GMT

Reigning WorldSSP champion hopes to put problems behind him

Coming off the back of tough back to back set of races, Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) is struggling to understand the problems with his YZF-R6 which caused him to finish off the podium for two races in a row.

Despite two tough rounds, he continues to lead the way in the world championships standings so will take this as a positive as the FIM Supersport World Championship series now has two weeks until round five at Imola. However, it’s tight at the top of the standings with just seven points splitting the top three.

Mahias was able to stay up with the leading group, but was unable to overtake the leaders throughout the race in order to fight for the podium spots. Hoping to work on the problem and identify which areas he will need to improve on ahead of Imola, the Frenchman looks ahead to the next battle.

“It was exactly the same race as Aragon,” begins a deflated Mahias. “I don’t know why we have the problems, again my bike is very slow on the exit to the slow corners. It’s difficult because we only see these problem in the race, because in Free Practice I rode alone. For sure I hope to find the best solution and best engine for Imola, but I hoped for this also after Phillip Island, and then after Thailand. The problem is that the last two races have been so close, I don’t have the time to work on the engine or to work on the bike. But now we have two or three weeks to improve, I hope.”

Keeping an eye on the tight championship battle, he adds: “For the championship it’s not a good or bad result, I am in first again and I tried my best during the race in Assen. It’s impossible to fight any more, I am 18 laps in the limit and I pushed a lot in the corners to follow the group, not even to overtake. The championship is long and not finished, I will try for Imola to work for the best and to come back to the podium.”

Re-watch Mahias’ battle, and the sensational 18 lap WorldSSP race, all with the WorldSBK VideoPass.