03/09/2022

Zeal of the LIQUI MOLY Intact GP duo unbroken in Misano

The initially difficult start to the Misano weekend continued for the LIQUI MOLY Intact GP duo on qualifying Saturday. An improvement from FP2 to Q1 and Q2 helped German Marcel Schrötter in particular to twelfth on the grid in row four, while teammate Jeremy Alcoba will start the race on Sunday from P21 in row seven.

The 2022 season feels like a rollercoaster ride for Marcel Schrötter at times. From brilliant highs to difficulties - his crew is always there to help and advise him, trying to adjust the Kalex to the 29-year-old's needs. And even though the three free practice sessions at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli were no easy task for the German, he eventually managed to make the jump from Q1 to the grid-deciding Q2, where he has a promising starting position for Sunday's 25-lap race with a twelfth-place finish.

On the opposite side of the Intact GP garage, the displeasure of youngster Jeremy Alcoba is clear to see. After the Spaniard had started to feel better towards the end of the last Friday session, hopes were high to make up enough ground for Q2 in FP3. But unfortunately, things did not go as hoped for the 20-year-old in FP3, nor in Q1, where he was just 0.134s short of the golden Q2 ticket. Consequently, disappointment got the better of the ambitious teenager, who always has very high expectations of himself. But even from P21, the way to the points is not far, especially for Jeremy Alcoba, who has already impressed with his race pace more than once in the past 13 races of his rookie season.

When the lights go out for the 14th round at 12:20 pm (CEST), all previous efforts will be forgotten, because only then will valuable championship points be at stake.

Results

FP3
1. Alonso LOPEZ/ SPA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'36.107
2. Jake DIXON/ GBR/ KALEX – 1'36.310 (+0.203)
3. Aron CANET/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'36.355 (+0.248)
4. Albert ARENAS/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'36.367 (+0.260)
5. Celestino VIETTI/ ITA/ KALEX – 1'36.380 (+0.273)
19. Marcel SCHRÖTTER/ GER/ KALEX – 1'37.146 (+1.039)
21. Jeremy ALCOBA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'37.192 (+1.085)

Q1
1. Lorenzo DALLA PORTA/ ITA/ KALEX – 1'36.720
2. Bo BENDSNEYDER/NED/ KALEX – 1'36.747 (+0.027)
3. Joe ROBERTS/ USA/ KALEX – 1'36.814 (+0.094)
4. Marcel SCHRÖTTER/ GER/ KALEX – 1'36.932 (+0.212)
7. Jeremy ALCOBA/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'37.066 (+0.346)

Q2
1. Celestino VIETTI/ ITA/ KALEX – 1'35.996
2. Albert ARENAS/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'36.097 (+0.101)
3. Alonso LOPEZ/ SPA/ BOSCOSCURO – 1'36.186 (+0.190)
4. Aron CANET/ SPA/ KALEX – 1'36.373 (+0.377)
5. Tony ARBOLINO/ ITA/ KALEX – 1'36.397 (+0.401)
12. Marcel SCHRÖTTER/ GER/ KALEX – 1'36.639 (+0.643)

Marcel Schrötter

P12 - 1'36.639 (+0.643)

"Unfortunately, we are still finding it incredibly difficult to find a certain flow. We are working extremely hard, but it is not easy for us this weekend. It's even more surprising that qualifying was once again my best session because, in the past, that was my weakness. But it just shows that even though I'm always pushing hard, it's extremely difficult for me to get up to speed. I don't feel one hundred percent comfortable and yet I think qualifying was a bit of a turning point this weekend because we turned things around. Twelfth on the grid is not ideal, but it's still a great improvement on the practice sessions. All the heads are smoking in the team, everyone is giving absolutely everything and thinking about how they can help me. It is sometimes extremely frustrating how you can feel so good on the bike and then the next moment you don't. We will continue to fight and hope that we will be able to improve. We will keep fighting and hope that we have made a step. Nevertheless, we have to do some work, because I was riding on the edge and also conditionally, I can't race like that. We urgently need to bring in more basic speed and then we'll see what the weather does tomorrow. Nevertheless, it was a positive qualifying compared to the rest of the weekend. Our starting position is not too bad and I think a lot is still possible."

Jeremy Alcoba

P21 - 1'37.066 (Q1)

"Unfortunately, I did not manage to improve enough in the third free practice. My feeling was not optimal, even after we spent a lot of time analysing yesterday and I was actually positive about Saturday. I am disappointed that I was only a little short of Q2 in Q1 because I think a good grid position would have been possible for us today. I had some problems with the rear grip so we couldn't improve any further. We always make it harder than it needs to be, because the race pace is good, I have no doubt about that, but if we always have to spend the first laps of the race fighting our way up into the top 15, then we just lose too much time. Time that is missing at the back to be able to get more out of it. I will still do everything I can to get a good result tomorrow, my crew and I deserve that after all the hard work this weekend."

Pictures – San Marino Grand Prix

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