23/09/2022

Changing conditions complicate shortened Motegi opening day

The onset of rain at the start of the day's only Moto2 session did not make the task easy for either Marcel Schrötter or LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Team rookie Jeremy Alcoba on his first appearance at the Japanese track. At the moment, however, the riders of the German racing team are within good reach of Q2 with P18 and P16.

It's been a full three years since Japan hosted the World Motorcycle Championship and even though Moto2 veteran Marcel Schrötter knows the 4.8km Mobility Resort Motegi track inside out, conditions were so mixed from the start of the 40-minute session that even experienced riders found it difficult to build up a trusting feeling with their bike. Some sectors were wet, others damp, others dry. With his 1'52.286, the 29-year-old lost 1.793s to the fastest of the day, Augusto Fernandez, which makes the likeable Bavarian anything but satisfied. On Saturday morning, however, there is still a chance of a direct entry into Q2 with FP2, which starts at 06:55 German time.

For Jeremy Alcoba, on the other hand, the FP1 session was his debut on the Japanese track and even if the ambitious rookie always hopes for more, a 16th place at the start in such difficult conditions is definitely respectable. Only two positions separate the 20-year-old from a possible Q2 entry, which he is aiming for on the second day in Motegi with detailed analyses and quick learning processes on the track.

What influence the weather will have on this 16th race weekend of the season remains to be seen, but the German and the Spaniard are within striking distance and full of eagerness to master the long-awaited steps forward.

Results

FP1
1. Augusto FERNANDEZ/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'50.493
2. Somkiat CHANTRA/ THA/ KALEX – 1'50.577 (+0.084)
3. Pedro ACOSTA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'50.783 (+0.290)
4. Ai OGURA/ JAP/ KALEX – 1'50.885 (+0.392)
5. Filip SALAC/ CZE/ KALEX – 1'50.967 (+0.474)
16. Jeremy ALCOBA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'51.916 (+1.423)
18. Marcel SCHRÖTTER/ GER/ KALEX – 1'52.286 (+1.793)

Marcel Schrötter

P18 - 1'52.286 (+1.793)

"It was a different Friday than usual with only one session, which turned out to be tricky because right from the first lap, it started to drip and rain in different sections of the track. Some corners were really wet for a short time, but I tried to stay out because it then stopped again for a bit. But it was difficult to find the rhythm and build up confidence. I'm a bit disappointed with the result because even though we haven't been here for two years, I know the track well and when people finish ahead who are here for the very first time, that shouldn't happen. It's frustrating for me because I can't understand why. I don't feel too bad on the bike and I feel like I'm riding well, but we're just too slow. Mentally, of course, it's also very hard mentally because you just don't know what the problem is. On the other hand, if I knew it just wasn't my day, and even if it drags on for several weeks if you can pinpoint the reason, you also know what you need to work on. We are analyzing our data now and hope to be able to make a move for tomorrow."

Jeremy Alcoba

P16 - 1'51.916 (+1.423)

"Today was my first time riding in Motegi and I enjoyed the track a lot. The lines are fun but it was still a little bit difficult because it rained in some sectors, which takes away your feeling and confidence. Still, I feel good on the track but I still need to improve my lines and allbut we are ready to work on the setting of the bike and see what we can do with some more track time. I hope it won't rain again on Saturday so that we can follow our set-up plan, push more and prepare for the race but we'll see how it goes tomorrow."

Pictures – Grand Prix of Japan

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