Multiple Moto2 title contender Thomas Luthi made up eight places in Sunday's Qatar season-opener, but that was still only enough to cross tꦬhe line in tenth.

After a solid winter, the IntactGP rider struck unexpected set-up issues during the grand prix weekend and was left𝓡 just 18th on the grid.

"I'm definitely a little disappointed, that's for sure. I felt ready💟 for the season and then it played a trick on us here in Doha," said the 12-time Moto2 race winner, who has been runner-up at Losail one year ago.

"We worked in t🎃he wrong direction for too long and then had to change completely for race day. Basically, we have to start all over again.

"The team did very well in 🐬the short term, but everything was a bit tight. After the difficult qualifying session, the starting position was not good. The result is damage limitation.

"I was not ✃that far from the top and I had to get to know a completely new motorcycle. That was a mammoth task that I had to do today. I'm happy with the points, but I'm also happy with the experience we've had here.

"It is 𝄹absolutely crucial that we learn from it and understand it. It could be a tool that will e𝓀ven give us an advantage in the future."

Team-mate Marcel Schrotter, on pole position one year ago at Losail, had suffered similar iꦛssues to Luthi but was at least able to 🦹salvage 13th in qualifying.

However, some early-race contactꦜ meant Schrotter dropped behind Lutღhi in the opening laps, before shadowing the #12 as they moved through the field.

While Lutꦏhi's progress began to stall, Schrotter continued his rise to reach seventh place at the chequered flag.

"I got off to a good start but on the exit of turn two, there was a touch," Schrotter said. "Tom passed me inside too. There was a lot of scrambling, especially with Di Giannantonio, which cost me a lot of time. We should have been aggressive, but with a little more brains. We bo🍰th have the potential to be ahead.

"Nevertheless, I didn't have the pace as expected in the first laps. I felt no grip on the front wheel. Then I tried bit by bit to increase my pace. I got faster and faster and [eventually caught]. Unfortunately it took a while to get past him, but Tom is not one of the riding styles that is so easy to overtake and you don’t want to [tangle] with your owꦍn team-mate.

"I had a strong pace towards the end and four seconds behind the leader is ok. Seventh place is not a dream result, but overall we did a good job, did som🔴e good overtaking and ended up being the fastest on the track with Nagashima."