03/07/2022

Strong conclusion to a difficult weekend in Jerez

While Lukas Tulovic celebrated with second place his sixth Moto2 podium this season, Phillip Tonn and Jakob Rosenthaler impressed with determined rides in both Moto3 races on Sunday in southern Spain.

For the LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team, however, round four began on Thursday afternoon with two seconds of shock. First, Lukas Tulovic crashed in turn three, but escaped unhurt. A bit later, during ETC free practice three, the 15-year-old Tyrolean Niklas Kitzbichler lost control of his bike and high-sided wildly just a few meters before the crash site of his team mate. Kitzbichler suffered a slightly fracture to his left forearm and started his journey home the same evening.

But the weekend held further turbulent moments in store for the outfit from Allgäu. On Saturday morning, Lukas Tulovic crashed heavily for the second time during the first Moto2 qualifying session. This time it was turn twelve that was his undoing, where the 21-year-old rider from Eberbach survived a high-speed crash unscathed. Before that, he had set the second-fastest lap time. At the end of the day, however, Tulovic moved up to pole position because supposed pole setter Alex Escrig got his lap time cancelled due to yellow flag infringement. On Sunday, Tulovic impressed from the best starting position with fighting spirit and the will to win. However, a misjudgement of a situation at the end of the second lap cost him dearly when he failed to recognize that Spaniard Escric was much earlier on the brakes at this point this time.

In Moto3 Junior World Championship, Phillip Tonn and Jakob Rosenthaler continued their upward trend. Although the 16-year-old from Linz had to start the first race from last place on the grid due to a penalty for slow sector times during qualifying, the rookie impressed with a strong first lap in each case and plenty of verve from start to finish. Phillip Tonn from Mattstedt delivered two decent races on Sunday in Jerez despite healthy issues. In the second race of the day, both talents battled on the edge of the points.

The series, which also includes JuniorGP™ Moto3, the Moto2™ European Championship and the European Talent Cup, will remain in southern Europe for the fifth event, which will be hosted by the Autódromo Internazionale do Algarve, not far from Portimao in Portugal.

#JuniorGP Jerez - Moto3™ Combined Qualifying Results (QP1/QP2):

1 Collin VEIJER / NED / AGR Team / KTM / 1´46.530 (QP1)

2 José Antonio RUEDA / SPA / Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 / Honda / 1´46.583 +0.053 (QP1)

3 Filippo FARIOLI / ITA / ASPAR Junior Team / Honda / 1´46.626 +0.096 (QP1)

17 #66 Phillip TONN / GER / LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team / KTM / 1´47.722 +1.192 (QP1)

29 #78 Jakob ROSENTHALER / AUT / LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team / KTM / 1´48.891 +2.361 (QP1)

#JuniorGP Jerez - Moto3™ Race 1 (16 Laps):

1 Collin VEIJER / NED / AGR Team / KTM / 28´37.996

2 José Antiono RUEDA / SPA / Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 / Honda / +0.161

3 Ángel PIQUERAS / SPA / Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 / Honda / +0.318

#66 Phillip TONN / GER / LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team / KTM / +28.757

#78 Jakob ROSENTHALER / AUT / LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team / KTM / +28.893

#JuniorGP Jerez - Moto3™ Race 2 (16 Laps):

1 José Antiono RUEDA / SPA / Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 / Honda / 28´47.151

2 David ALAMANSA / SPA / Finetwork MIR Racing Team / KTM / +8.705

3 Edward O’SHEA / GBR / British Talent Team / Honda / +8.728

18 #78 Jakob ROSENTHALER / AUT / LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team / KTM / +23.083

19 #66 Phillip TONN / GER / LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team / KTM / +23.172

FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship:

1 José Antiono RUEDA / SPA / Honda / 153

2 David SALVADOR / SPA / Husqvarna / 82

3 Ángel PIQUERAS / SPA / Honda / 81

18 #66 Phillip TONN / GER / KTM

20 #78 Jakob ROSENTHALER / AUT / KTM

#JuniorGP Jerez - Moto2™ Combined Qualifying Results (QP1/QP2):

1 #3 Lukas TULOVIC / GER / LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team / KALEX / 1´42.657 (QP1)

2 Xavier CARDELÙS / AND / PROMORacing / KALEX / 1´42.679 +0.022 (QP1)

3 Alex ESCRIG / SPA / Yamaha Philippines STYLOBIKE Team / KALEX / 1´42.731 +0.074 (QP1)

#JuniorGP Jerez - Moto2™ Race (17 Laps):

1 Alex ESCRIG / SPA / Yamaha Philippines STYLOBIKE Team / KALEX / 29´19.178

2 #3 Lukas TULOVIC / GER / LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team / KALEX / +1.543

3 Senna AGIUS / AUS / PROMORACING / KALEX / +2.641

FIM Moto2™ European Championship:

1 #3 Lukas TULOVIC / GER / KALEX / 135

2 Senna AGIUS / AUS / KALEX / 106

3 Alex ESCRIG / SPA / KALEX / 99

Jürgen LINGG

LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team
Team boss

"First of all, I would like to wish Niklas a good and speedy recovery. We are sorry that his weekend here in Jerez ended so early. Apart from that, this weekend was very nice from my point of view. After Barcelona, it was my second visit to our junior team this year at a race weekend. I am very impressed with this series. There is really nothing better for a junior series when the races are held exclusively at Grand Prix circuits. On top of that, the weekend’s schedule gives the young riders plenty of track time. I have to be honest; this organization deserves the utmost respect; it is the only way young riders can develop."

"That is why we decided to install a junior team for this series and compete in all classes. I also think it is great what our team has set up since then and how they do it. Everything is very well organized and super structured. There is also a great atmosphere. It is fun to watch them at work. I really enjoy coming to these races and from a sporting point of view things are looking up for our young riders. Lukas rode a very strong race today, although it was not an easy weekend for him. But also, our two Moto3 guys showed fighting spirit in both races until the chequered flag. The direction is right, it can continue like this. We have to stay at this level and continue to work with concentration to bring the boys forward."

Dirk REISSMANN

LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team
Team manager

"The weekend started for us with a painful damper when Niklas crashed with a violent highsider on Thursday afternoon. He injured his forearm in the process and immediately travelled back home to have another examination. Fortunately, the original diagnosis was confirmed, that it was only a small fracture, which will heal without surgery. From my side and also from that of the entire team, we wish him a speedy recovery so that he soon can get back on a race bike - all the best Niklas, get well soon."

"There is a very pleasing trend to report in Moto3. It was a pleasure to see how both our young riders improved well over the course of the weekend. Phillip, however, went into the races a bit under the weather in terms of his health. He did not feel quite well in the morning and had to be careful with his strength during the races. Considering these circumstances, he performed well and finished 18th and 19th, 28 and 23 seconds behind the respective race winner’s time. It was a good race day for him, especially since he also stayed crash-free and got the maximum out of himself. Jakob, on the other hand, experienced his best weekend so far in this championship. Although he had to start from very far back, he achieved good results. He fought his way forward in both races and showed up strongly in his group. We are most pleased with his improvement on Sunday in terms of lap times. He was much faster than in qualifying. For P18 in the afternoon in the second race and only 23 seconds off the race winner so, there is a lot of credit to him, and to Phillip as well."

"For our Moto2 crew, the weekend started unusually critical, because Lukas also had a heavy crash on the first day and another one in the first qualifying. At this point a very big praise to his crew, because they have completely rebuilt the bike in the short time until QP2. Respect for this team effort, as the bike was able to go back on track at the start of the second qualifying session. But much more important was that Lukas was able to regain his feeling and confidence for the race on Sunday. What the guys achieved there was phenomenal. Lukas himself paid them back with a strong performance in the race. After difficult days of training, he got the maximum out of it, although he made a small mistake shortly after the start. Apart from that, he showed a great race and fought until the end. Coming home 1.5 seconds behind the winner we do not need to hide. Last but not least, a big thank you to the whole team for their efforts in these conditions."

#3 Lukas TULOVIC

LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team, KALEX Moto2
Grid position: Pole / Race: P2

"I am very happy with this second place. Jerez was an incredibly difficult weekend for me, where I had to put away two heavy crashes. I am glad that I am healthy and was able to race. Pole position on Saturday was a gift, we do not need to talk about it for long because Alex Escrig was the faster in qualifying and it would not have made any difference to the outcome of the race if I had started from second or from the top spot. Since free practice sessions and qualifying went well, I knew I could fight for the win today. My speed and pace were very good. However, I almost hit the rear of Alex’s bike at the end of the second lap because he braked much earlier at this point than I had assumed."

"The subsequent involuntary "long lap" cost me a lot of time. After that I had to fight my way past a few riders and close the gap to the leaders. That also worked quite well. However, I pushed a bit too much the front and also the rear tyre. That slowed me down a bit towards the end of the race. Apart from that, Alex caught a good moment to pull away whereas I, on the other hand, took a bit too long to get past first Xavier Cardelus and later Senna Agius. Alex was the stronger one today, you have to give him that. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with the outcome of the weekend. Second place brings important points for the championship and the next race is in Portimao, where we will strike back."

2022/07 - JuniorGP Jerez

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