Robin Mulhauser crashes, Josh Hook learns and Dominique Aegerter observes
Strong from the beginning of the weekend on the circuit of Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, close to Valencia, Thomas Lüthi (Derendinger Racing Interwetten) will start the last Moto2 Grand Prix of the 2015 season this Sunday (12:20) from the second row of the grid, having set the fourth fastest time in the qualifying practice. Fastest on Friday and again this morning in the third free practice, Tom was a bit less successful in the afternoon in qualifying. Robin Mulhauser (Technomag Racing Interwetten), who celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday today, was on his way to secure a Top-20 position when he crashed at the end of the session (without hurting himself). After the decision of Dominique Aegerter (Technomag Racing Interwetten) to withdraw from the weekend, Joshua Hook, who replaced him in the previous three Grand Prix, re-took charge of the Swiss rider’s Kalex. For his debut appearance on a European circuit, “Josh” was classified 30th. A sum up of the day with the boss of CGBM Evolution, the company owning the two teams, Frédéric Corminboeuf: “A second row start and a good pace throughout the whole weekend: we can count on Tom in the race. Unfortunately he got held up a few times, although he had the pace to qualify on the front row. But once again, his pace and his confidence are more important than anything else: with Rabat, Zarco and Rins, the strongest man of the championship, we should see an interesting race. Robin did not get the compensation for his efforts that he deserved in qualifying; he started off really well after the difficult time he had overseas, he had a place in the Top-20 today, he tried but he crashed while he was only 8 tenths off the pole. As for Josh, we know that he missed the first day of practice, everything was new for him; he likes the circuit, the crowd and in the race he should mainly try to enjoy and learn this category for the future.”
They said…
Robin Mulhauser (Technomag Racing Interwetten, 26th): “This is the worst birthday present that I could have asked for. From this morning we had problems with the engine brake and for the qualifying we changed the set-up completely without finding a solution. 15 minutes before the end, I stopped and we went back to a previous set-up. When I went back out, I immediately felt better. On my second fast lap I was 7 tenths faster than my best time when I crashed just before the last corner; I was leaning a bit more than usual and I lost the front. I am angry because I had the means to close up on the Top-15… and I ended up 26th. But well, tomorrow I am going to give it everything to finish the season well.”
Dominique Aegerter (Technomag Racing Interwetten, did not take part): “What does a rider that cannot ride do? It is easy – he works! I spent the day on the service road watching my colleagues. It was interesting. Without seeing the times I could see immediately who was faster than others in any given place; I also learned some different lines. For once I was a coach, although I would have much preferred to be a rider.”
