You can bend the panel a bit. Take your runner board off then put your panel back on. You could do with a mate to hold or put a bit of weight on your scoot and also steady the panel at each end. I generally find leaning over the top putting a hand at each end of the panel works. Put your hands under your panel and pull out where your carb is. I’ve gained 10 to 15mm extra doing this before. As long as your careful you won’t bust any paint either. Also don’t try on your own as your likely to pull the scoot over or your panel off and land flat on your back
Isn’t there a song “ it takes two baby ! Me and you “