Tom Lüthi (2nd): off to a great start in Austria
Tom Lüthi (CarXpert Interwetten) kicked the weekend of well in Austria, just five days after his impressive victory in Brno, Czech Republic. The race is being held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielgberg. Lüthi has had the best time in the second part of the first training in the morning. He wasn’t to be stopped – not even by rain. The weather cleared up in the afternoon and the second training was held in dry conditions. He was beaten by the current world championship leader Franco Morbidelli by only 31 thousandths of seconds. Iker Lecuona (Garage Plus Interwetten) fell twice in the morning due to the rain. He ended up on the 23rd place today. It’s his first time on this Austrian racetrack. He’s currently only missing 1.3 seconds to today’s best finishing time. Jesko Raffin (Garage Plus Interwetten) has to content himself with position #29 today.
Frédéric Corminboeuf, team manager and owner of CBGM Evolution, enjoys the positive results: “It was a good day. Tom was leading in the morning during the rain. He could confirm just how secure he is of driving in wet conditions. He also showed a good performance in dry conditions but we know that a lot of things will get tested on Friday. It’s a good feeling to already have him on the top since the early beginning today. Iker also showed his good side today. It was his first time on this track. He slowly finds his way back to how he was before the horrible overthrow in Jerez at the beginning of the season. He seems to trust himself more and his aggressive side is coming back. He finally came to realize that talent isn’t enough to be competing at the top. It needs hard work and practice every single day.
Unfortunately, we find ourselves confronted with Jesko’s mental blockade. He puts himself under too much pressure. He needs to relax more. We all know that he’s capable of so much more. He showed this at the beginning of the season.”
He said…
Thomas Lüthi (carXpert Interwetten, 2nd):
«We weren’t going really fast in the rain this morning because it wasn’t easy. The afternoon was all about finding one’s rhythm and we worked a lot on it. I only had a slight problem with the brake pressure. We were provided with two back tires that are different. The grip isn’t as much as it was in the year before. I don’t know for sure, maybe it’s been washed after the Formula 1 Grand Prix. It was a great first day and everyone can be assured: this weekend will be a Morbidelli-Lüthi duel. As will be the following weekends. I already said it at the beginning of the season and I’m going to say it again: We have a lot of good racers here in the Moto2 class. Each and every one of the will show the world what they’ve got.
Spielberg (Austria). GP of Austria Moto2, first free practice day (2 sessions): 1st. Morbidelli (ITA, Kalex), 1’30.211 (172.300 km/h); 2nd. Lüthi (SWI, Kalex, carXpert Interwetten), + 0.031; 3rd. Oliveira (POR, KTM), + 0.183; 4th. Pasini (ITA, Kalex), + 0.210; 5th. I. Viñales (SPA, Kalex), + 0.262; 6th. Quartararo (FRA, Kalex), + 0.333; 7th. A. Marquez (SPA, Kalex), + 0.407; 8th. Bagnaia (ITA, Kalex), + 0.491; 9th. Cortese (GER, Suter), + 0.539; 10th. Nakagami (JPN, Kalex), + 0.592. Ferner: 12th. Aegerter (SWI, Suter), + 0.643; 23rd. Lecuona (SPA, Kalex, Garage Plus Interwetten), + 1.311; 29th. Raffin (SWI, Kalex, Garage Plus Interwetten), + 1.767. 32 classified.
