03/09/2023

Lukas Tulovic: "I made the best of it."

Once again, the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP team had to face a chaotic Moto2 race in which Lukas Tulovic finished 19th despite a solid pace, while Senna Agius was unable to finish the Barcelona Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya after a crash in lap eight.

It was a battle against windmills for Lukas Tulovic, who managed to turn well into the first corner despite a mixed start. But just two corners further on, the German met a fate that was to determine the rest of his race. In Turn 3, Tulovic and team-mate Senna Agius clashed, which threw them both far back in the field. Moto2 is merciless and so the loss of position and time meant that the 23-year-old had to fight his way back from P26 - which he succeeded in doing after "Tulo" crossed the finish line in nineteenth place after 21 laps, but the group in front of him remained out of reach despite his comparable pace.

Senna Agius, who usually rides in the Junior GP, was highly motivated to represent the injured Darryn Binder in the best possible way. His 21st place on the grid increased the pressure on the 18-year-old, who made a mistake in turn 1, went wide, and lost several positions. A few seconds later there was the aforementioned contact with Tulovic. A long-lap penalty followed for riding over the track limits on the first lap. Having put this behind him, the Australian wanted to reset his thoughts and work his way back into a rhythm, but that was not meant to be, as Agius crashed in turn 7 on the eighth race lap. Stunned and disappointed, the youngster returned to the pits and is now trying to put the misery behind him in order to have a clear head for the Pirelli test on Monday and the Misano GP in just one week.

On Monday, the 4th of September, the Moto2 category has a tyre test at the Barcelona Circuit on the agenda before heading to the twelfth stop on this year's race calendar at the San Marino Grand Prix in Misano in a few days' time, from 8th - 10 th of September.

Results

Race
1. Jake DIXON/ GBR/ KALEX
2. Aron CANET/ SPA/ KALEX – (+0.205)
3. Albert ARENAS/ SPA/ KALEX – (+1.027)
19. Lukas TULOVIC/ GER/ KALEX – (+25.537)
DNF Senna AGIUS/ AUS/ KALEX

World Championship
1. Pedro ACOSTA / SPA / 186
2. Tony ARBOLINO / ITA / 164
3. Jake DIXON/ GBR/ 142
19. Darryn BINDER / RSA / 13
21. Lukas TULOVIC / GER / 12

Lukas Tulovic

P19 - (+25.537)
Moto2 World Championship 2023 - P21 - 12 Points

"I didn't have a good start, but I had a great first corner. I quickly realized that quite a few riders were going wide, so I made a good run into turn 1. I made up a lot of places, but unfortunately, I had contact with my team-mate Senna at the entrance to turn 3, which almost threw us both to the very back. I can't say much more about it now because I have to watch the scene again. In any case, I was on the inside when the contact occurred on the outside. Of course, it is very annoying for both of us. I then tried to make the best of it. I was able to overtake a few riders and then I was alone again quite early. Unfortunately, I had a lot of space in front and then I rode my constant pace, which was just as good as that of the riders in front of me. I'm even more annoyed about the collision because it cost me so much time and places and I have the feeling that I could have easily kept up with the group in front of me. From a purely pace point of view, it was a solid race and so we now have to take the positive into the future."

Senna Agius

DNF

"I got caught up in the chaos of the first lap that you get when starting from the back of the grid. I made another mistake in Turn 1, had to use the cut-off, lost four positions, and still got a long lap penalty, which, in my eyes, doesn't make sense at all. After the long lap, I wanted to reset my mind but then I had a really weird crash in turn 7 and I was sitting in the gravel and I couldn't believe it. I am feeling quite embarrassed and I am sorry for the whole LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP-Team. This is below of what I should be doing. I just try to have good day tomorrow at the test, get some confidence back, and try again in Misano with a new approach. "

Jürgen Lingg

Team Manager

"We have reduced the gap to the top this weekend, even if the results don't show it that way. The field is very close and I am also sure that more would have been possible for both riders in Q1. Of course, it's difficult to make something out of these starting positions at the back of the field. In addition, our two riders got in each other's way at the beginning of the race. That made it even more difficult. Lukas then rode a solid race, but he was simply too far away and not fast enough to be able to close the gap and finish in the points. Unfortunately, Senna crashed later on, but that was a rookie mistake and things like that can happen. We have to put the weekend behind us quickly and take the positives with us. I think we can achieve more again in Misano, at least that must be the goal. The test will be interesting and we are all curious to see what the future holds for us in terms of the tyres, and of course, it is always good to do kilometers and ride."

Catalunya GP 2023 – Sunday Moto2

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