FIM Supersport World Championship sophomore rider Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) took his encouraging run of form to new heights at the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round. The #57 returned to the podium for his first silverware since a rainy Race 2 at the season-opening round at Phillip Island. This time around, at a hot and sunny Misano World Circuit "Marco Simoncelli”, the Indonesian battled with the field’s top names and emerged with a bronze medal for his second career WorldSSP podium.
He faltered early in the weekend as his 1’37.396s time sent him back to a P16 grid start, complicating his Race 1. After he settled into the race over the first three laps, Mahendra gritted his teeth and passed GMT-94 Yamaha teammates Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha), ZXMOTO rider Federico Caricasulo (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) and others to climb up to P9 by the race’s midpoint. On Lap 11, however, with his tyres declining after his aggressive seven-position climb, he fell down the order as the race entered its final third, crossing the line in P12, still four positions better than his grid start.
Race 2 would come as the Indonesian’s proudest moment of the round. Setting off from an improved P8, a phenomenal jump off the line at lights out saw him climb up to P2 by the end of the first lap. He chased his teammate Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team). Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) made his way past the Indonesian on the “Rio” Turn 4 with nine laps to go, but the #57 didn’t let him run away with the silver medal. He stuck within four tenths of the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS rider for the rest of the race until the final lap. With his form improving, the five rounds to come this season will continue to give the 2024 WorldSSP300 Champion a platform to show his stuff, as an injury to both forearms last season prevented him from competing in the final four rounds of that campaign.
On what the return to the podium means to him, Mahendra said: “I’m really happy! I tried to push from the beginning of the race, I went from P8 to P3 in the first corner, which is really impressive for me. I tried to keep the pace up with Albert and manage the race. In the end, I felt the tyre was done, so I tried to take care, but the result was really good. It’s incredible, I dream of riding on the bigger bikes, and so I want to focus to be on the rostrum. I see Albert is really strong, consistent and focused, so, for me, Albert is a great reference to learn from. Now we can celebrate a bit! I want to eat ice cream to celebrate, but first I want to thank my team, they’re working really hard, and I’m really happy with my coach, Jules Cluzel, who pushes me really hard in training. He’s retired, but he’s still a really strong rider.”
Mahendra and the rest of the WorldSSP field take on Donington next with action starting on Friday, July 10th! Tune in with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 50% off!