R. Mulhauser, I. Lecuona, GP of Australia, Top news

Lecuona and Mulhauser unlucky in Australia

22.10.2016

Thomas Lüthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) is certainly in a good form ahead of the last races of the season in the Moto2 World Championship. The Swiss representative and the winner of the Japanese Grand Prix six days ago in Motegi was the fastest man of the qualifying session at Phillip Island. It was cold with 10 degrees air temperature during the decisive session, rain and strong wind and a number of crashes in Moto2 including one for Iker Lecuona and Robin Mulhauser (carXpert Interwetten), luckily without physical consequences. Thomas Lüthi, who was on top from the beginning, did not himself avoid a small accident but was able to pick up his bike and continue to work with a cherry on top - his third pole position of the season after Le Mans and Assen. A superb performance which pleased the boss of CGBM Evolution, the company that aligns the two Swiss teams on the Moto2 grid, Frédéric Corminboeuf: "Although we got this amazing pole position thanks to Tom, I have to admit that I was tense during the whole session. Having the riders ride despite such cold, strong wind and tricky grip conditions, at 5pm, was dangerous. Tom was the boss today with his team, they made the right decisions in the right moment, which is very encouraging for tomorrow. Iker started the session really well, then he struggled a bit more; I have to say that this was the first time that he was able to rider in (almost) dry conditions here at Phillip Island, on a circuit that we know is difficult. He crashed and was angry with himself but I reminded him that he is here to learn. Everything that he learns this end of the season is for 2017. Robin did not get lucky: He was on a hot lap, one second off Tom's time, when he had a high speed crash in the final sector. The impact on his head was quite hard and we agreed not to go out again."

They said...

Iker Lecuona (carXpert Interwetten, 25th): "I got the opportunity to try all possible conditions today but it was very complicated also with the crash. The weather did not give us a break. I want more and certainly better tomorrow!"

Robin Mulhauser (carXpert Interwetten, 28th): "I made a mistake in corner number 11, I was too much on the outside and when I touched the gas again the rear wheel lost grip all of a sudden on a wet spot. I high-sided and landed hard. Apart from a few bruises I am fine."