15/05/2022

Schrötter & Alcoba as consistent points scorer take P6 and P13 at Le Mans

Déjà-vu for the LIQUI MOLY Intact GP team after both Marcel Schrötter and Jeremy Alcoba, as so often this season, scored points in P6 and P13 respectively with incomparable catch-up maneuvers despite difficult starting conditions.

The SHARK Grand Prix de France, attended by thousands of fans, ended for Marcel Schrötter as it began on Friday: with position 6.
But already in the warm-up, things went much better with sixth place for the German after a rather mixed Saturday qualifying. After a solid race start from P13, Schrötter gradually made up ground and found himself towards the middle of the race in a duel for P5 with the Japanese Ai Ogura. After a small braking error in the final third of the race, the 29-year-old had to let Ogura go and fight hard to hold his ground against the looming threat in the person of Joe Roberts. In the end, the only German Moto2 rider crossed the finish line in Le Mans in sixth place with ten more world championship points in his pocket.

Fellow LIQUI MOLY Intact GP team member Jeremy Alcoba again had a mammoth task ahead of him, starting from P27. But once again the young Spaniard proved that he can show his strength in the race despite a lack of pace. He gradually worked his way forward and reached the points in P15 as early as lap eleven of 25. He eventually managed to make up two more positions, taking home points for the seventh time in a row and also leading the 'Rookie of the Year' standings by 10 points. However, the 20-year-old's mind is already on his upcoming work for the Italian Grand Prix, which will be held at the legendary Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello in two weeks' time, from 27-29 May 2022.

Warm-Up
1. Pedro ACOSTA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'36.343
2. Jake DIXON/ GBR/ KALEX – 1'36.627 (+0.284)
3. Augusto FERNANDEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'36.902 (+0.559)
4. Sam LOWES/ GBR/ KALEX – 1'36.975 (+0.632)
5. Aron CANET/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'37.007 (+0.664)
6. Marcel SCHRÖTTER/ GER/ KALEX – 1'37.057 (+0.714)
21. Jeremy ALCOBA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'37.908 (+1.565)

Race 
1. Augusto FERNANDEZ/ SPA/ KALEX
2. Aron CANET / SPA / KALEX (+3.746)
3. Somkiat CHANTRA/ THA/ KALEX (+4.628)
4. Cameron BEAUBIER/ USA/ KALEX (+4.745)
5. Ai OGURA / JPN / KALEX (+15.376)
6. Marcel SCHRÖTTER/ GER/ KALEX (+17.547) 
13. Jeremy ALCOBA/ SPA/ KALEX (+26.881)

World Championship
1. VIETTI Celestino / ITA / 108
2. OGURA Ai / JPN / 92
3. CANET Aron / SPA / 89
4. ARBOLINO Tony / ITA / 70
5. FERNANDEZ Augusto / SPA / 69
6. ROBERTS Joe / USA / 66
7. CHANTRA Somkiat / THA / 61
8. SCHRÖTTER Marcel / GER / 57
9. NAVARRO Jorge / SPA / 52
10. BENDSNEYDER Bo / NED / 36
13. ALCOBA Jeremy/ SPA/ 31

Team classification
1. IDEMITSU HONDA TEAM ASIA / 153
2. FLEXBOX HP40 / 141
3. MOONEY VR46 RACING TEAM / 108
4. ELF MARC VDS RACING TEAM / 105
5. RED BULL KTM AJO / 89
6. LIQUI MOLY INTACT GP / 88
7. ITALTRANS RACING TEAM / 71
8. INDE GASGAS ASPAR TEAM / 61
9. PERTAMINA MANDALIKA SAG TEAM / 42
10.YAMAHA VR46 MASTER CAMP TEAM / 34

Marcel Schrötter

P6 - (+17.547s)
Moto2 World Championship 2022 - P8 - 57 Points

"It was a very solid race. Today there just wasn't more in it, we started very well on Friday but then lost a bit on Saturday. We tried several things, which unfortunately didn't necessarily turn out to be positive. That can happen when you want to improve. Unfortunately, I've lost a bit of confidence since then. This morning in warm-up it went better than yesterday in qualifying, but I still did not feel completely one hundred percent comfortable on the bike. It is then difficult to make a big step for the race. The race was solid in the end, but I didn't feel very strong and competitive. I was able to make up places after the start was okay, although not quite as I wanted. But I didn't have the necessary speed and was then involved in a duel with Ogura. He got past me for a while but was then too slow and signalized to go ahead and do the work. Unfortunately, sweat got in my eyes a few laps from the end, causing me to brake slightly late, which in turn gave him the opportunity to pass and pull away. From that point on, I just lost three or four tenths and, unfortunately, a bit of confidence. He was able to keep up his pace, while I slowed down and struggled to keep up. Sixth place is absolutely okay, especially since there simply wasn't more in it today. We can be satisfied, after all, we are among the best, so we will continue to work hard. I just hope that we manage qualifying better in the future so that we can position ourselves better for the races. We're on a good path and we should continue to follow it."

Jeremy Alcoba

P13 - (+26.881s)
Moto2 World Championship 2022 - P13 - 31 Points

"It was a really hard race because it was much warmer than expected but our missing pace made it even more difficult as we basically had to find it during the race. At the beginning, I struggled a little bit but then, when the tyres dropped, I felt much better, especially in the corners, which then helped me to ride more easily. When Vietti passed me, I did my best lap and I also got to understand how he rides and manages his race. It was hard to follow him but these laps behind him helped me a lot to learn and the pace was as good as the top 6. The main Problem was once more on Friday and Saturday. We need to evaluate the situation better and make less changes on the bike. Once we optimize our work before the race, we might have it easier on Sunday. Right now we have to push way too much at the beginning of the race, we risk a lot but gladly we managed to bring home some more points today. The team did a great job, we are working hard and I hope we can make another step for Mugello."

Jürgen Lingg

Teammanager

"It was a solid weekend all around, but once again things went better on Sunday than the days before and that's ultimately what counts. After all, it's all about the points on Sunday. The guys did a good job, so we were able to score good results again. Marcel's race was strong, the pace was good and consistent. He wasn't the fastest in the field, but his consistency paid off in the end. He didn't make any major mistakes and I think it wasn't easy towards the end to keep Joe Roberts at bay, but he managed to do it and it was a lot of work and a tough battle, which was very good.
Jeremy has had the most difficult weekend so far here at Le Mans, so for him to finish in the points today makes us super happy because we honestly didn't expect that. He certainly learned a lot in the race today and can take a lot with him to Mugello, so this was another strong performance from him."

Pictures - Grand Prix de France

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