Lecuona did not have luck, Mulhauser looks for solutions, Aegerter to return in Aragon
Thomas Lüthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) will start the Grand Prix of San Marino & Della Riviera de Rimini this Sunday at Misano from the second row of the grid. The winner of the last Grand Prix only a week ago at Silverstone (Great Britain) was classified sixth in qualifying, 0.480 behind the fastest man, the reigning world champion and the current championship leader Johann Zarco from France. The session was lively for the young Spaniard Iker Lecuona, who is replacing Dominique Aegerter (still injured) in the team carXpert Interwetten: Iker had an electronic problem at the beginning before suffering a rear tyre puncture... while he was going full gas in fifth gear! Days go by and they are still the same for Robin Mulhauser (carXpert Interwetten): the rider from Fribourg had to settle for a 29th and last position in qualifying. Frédéric Corminboeuf, the boss of the two Swiss teams, sums up the day: “This qualifying session wasn’t easy for Tom, he was struggling to maintain a regularly good rhythm. That said, second row start is really good and we know that we have to do a lot of work tomorrow morning in the warm-up. Iker did not have luck: he spent almost half the session in the box with technical problems and then the puncture. In these conditions, his lap time 1,5 second off the quickest is excellent. Robin made a step forward at the beginning of the session, it is a pity that he did not have the same feeling on Friday already because he could have built on this base.”
They said…
Iker Lecuona (carXpert Interwetten, 26th): „On my first quick lap I experienced a huge problem with my gear box. I was able to bring the bike back to the box, we changed the shifter but it was a cable that was causing the problem. I had to pit in one more time and then I had a shocking experience: I had to ride over a piece of metal or something, I got a puncture in my rear tyre when I was in fifth gear! Another pit stop followed. In half a session I could not obviously improve my time as much as I wanted, but the gap is interesting and I would like to say thanks to the team once more for all their hard work given our bad luck.”
Robin Mulhauser (carXpert Interwetten, 29th): „There is still not much to say. I do my best but nothing has changed: I lose the front, the rear is sliding when I push more. I feel like I’m on the limit everywhere but I am two seconds off, that’s not normal.”
Dominique Aegerter (carXpert Interwetten, unfit): “I decided not to have an operation now but the situation is that I might have to do it this winter. My objective now is to be ready to ride in two weeks at Aragon. With two physio sessions a day, I am working like crazy to be back. My shoulder mobility is better and better every hour.”
