Third in the French Moto2 GP, third again in the intermediate classification of the world championship, Thomas Lüthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) had a solid weekend in the French Sarthe, despite some technical problems on this Sunday of the race (alert with his engine after warm-up, then electronic problem resolved by his team during the entry lap).
Leading from the start, Lüthi tried to escape, in vain. In a fight with Rins, Corsi and Baldassari, he lost a lot of time before being able to get the better of the latter, then secure this important third place for the championship. After a fantastic start, which allowed him to provisionally occupy seventh place, Dominique Aegerter (carXpert Interwetten) had to deliver a defensive race, having not been comfortable with his bike since the start of the race. weekend. Robin Mulhauser (carXpert Interwetten) did what was expected of him; if his 18th place does not earn him any championship points, it marks his best race at the start of the season.
Review of the day with the boss of CGBM Evolution, the structure that owns the two teams, Frédéric Corminboeuf: “I am very happy with Tom's performance, despite engine problems after warm-up and this electronic problem on the grid. This is the second podium of the season, we are back on the provisional championship podium and we beat several of our direct opponents. Robin achieved the objective that we had set and he also showed that when he manages to better manage the qualifying practices and start in the top 20 and not from the back of the grid, he will be able to regularly score points . The weekend was very hard for Dominique; we have to find solutions for Mugello, so that it regains a real feeling. We have tests scheduled this week in Misano, it will be good for everyone. »
They said…
Thomas Lüthi (Garage Plus Interwetten, 3rd): “After the warm-up, Achim, one of my mechanics, heard a strange noise from the engine side. Then, when I entered the track, my dashboard was not functioning normally; I had some problems, but the team managed to solve this electronic problem, updating it with the computers. My start was very good. I was quickly able to build up a lead of 4 tenths, but just as quickly, I understood that I would not be able to start alone. Alex Rins had excellent pace, I was not far from him in terms of performance, but I lost contact in my duel with Baldassari. This new podium is important, since it allows me to find myself in third place in the general classification of the championship and I am already looking forward to finding myself at Mugello, where I will just have to not repeat the same mistake that I made twelve years ago month: falling while I was in the lead. »
Dominique Aegerter (carXpert Interwetten, 13th) »At the start, you don't need to have the perfect setup, nor the ideal grip, that's why I managed to gain so many places, but I knew that it wouldn't would not last, unfortunately. We had problems throughout the weekend, even if I was able to create an illusion during qualifying. I wasn't fast enough and, above all, I had no rhythm. I have completely lost confidence in my bike and we have to find the solution, because it is impossible to imagine that suddenly I no longer know how to do anything. I am motivated, after a difficult day, I return to work with immense willpower. But it doesn't come: if my motorcycle doesn't want to turn when I want it to, if it doesn't want to brake where I want it, what should I do? »
Robin Mulhauser (carXpert Interwetten, 18th) »I am much more satisfied with this race than the one in Jerez two weeks ago, even if it brought me a championship point. Today I fought hard, after being stuck at the back of the pack at the very start of the race. I lost 15 seconds on the lead during the first two laps, before returning to the group in fifteenth place. My ideal time on a lap proves that I have my place in the top 15. I know what I have to do: understand and correct the mistakes I make during qualifying practice. If, at the next GP, I start two lines further ahead, I know that I will be able to hang in the right group. »
