No miracles for Aegerter (13th), a solid race for Mulhauser (18th)
Third in the French Moto2 Grand Prix, third again also in the provisional world championship classification, Thomas Lüthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) had a solid weekend on the French soil, despite some technical issues on Sunday (engine alert after warm-up, then a problem with his electronics during the sighting lap that his team was able to resolve). Lüthi was leading from the beginning and tried to pull a gap but wasn't able to do so. He lost a lot of time fighting with Rins, Corsi and Baldassari before he managed to win over one of them to finish third, which is important for the championship. After an incredible start that put him in a provisional 7th position, Dominique Aegerter (carXpert Interwetten) had to fight with the bike the whole race as he wasn't comfortable from the beginning of the weekend. Robin Mulhauser (carXpert Interwetten) did what was expected from him; although he did not score any points for his 18th position, he has completed his best race so far this season. Frédéric Corminboeuf, the boss of CGBM Evolution, the company owning the two teams, comments on the day: "I am very happy with Tom's performance despite a problem with the engine after warm-up and an electronic problem on the grid. This is his second podium of the season, we retook a provisional overall podium position in the championship and we were able to beat some direct competitors. Robin achieved the objective that we fixed for him and he also showed that if he was able to manage his qualifying session better to start from a Top-20 position and not further back, he would be able to regularly score points. The weekend was very difficult for Dominique; we have to find a solution for Mugello to give him his feeling back. We have planned a test for this week in Misano, which will be good for everyone."
They said...
Dominique Aegerter (carXpert Interwetten, 13th) "At the start we didn't need to have a perfect set-up and an ideal grip, that's why I was able to win so many positions but I knew that it wouldn't last long, unfortunately. We had problems the whole weekend, although I raised hope in qualifying. I wasn't fast enough and even more importantly, I didn't have a rhythm. I completely lost confidence with my bike and we have to find a solution because it is impossible to imagine that all of a sudden I cannot do anything. I am motivated after a difficult day, I go back to work with an immense determination. But it is not coming: if the bike doesn't turn when I want or it doesn't brake where I want, what must I do?"
Robin Mulhauser (carXpert Interwetten, 18th)"I am a lot happier with this race than in Jerez two weeks ago, although there I scored a world championship point. I had to fight today, having been stuck in a big group at the beginning of the race. I lost 15 seconds on the leaders during the first two laps already, before I managed to catch the group fighting for a fifteenth position. My ideal lap time proves that I have a place in the Top-15. I know what I need to do now: I need to understand and fix my mistakes that I make during qualifying. If I start the next Grand Prix two rows closer to the front, I know that I can stay in a good group."