Motorsport: Tom Lüthi is Moto2 vice world champion
Goal achieved: Thomas Lüthi (Kalex, Team Garage Plus Interwetten) secured the runner-up world title in the Moto2 class with a strong second place at the last Grand Prix of the 2016 season in Valencia (Spain). Since his world championship title in the 125cc class in 2005, Tom Lüthi, now 30, has never been ranked so high at the end of the season. [...]
Tom Lüthi, who will stay with the same team and in the same class, is considered the top favorite for the world championship title in 2017. In Valencia, he not only rode aggressively, but also extremely cleverly. The Swiss kept out of the roughest fights, but in the end defeated Franco Morbidelli in the battle for second place on the last lap of the race. With a clear 20-point lead over third-placed Alex Rins (Spain), Tom Lüthi was celebrated as runner-up behind Frenchman Johann Zarco (France) after crossing the finish line.
Silverstone victory brought the championship turnaround
Tom Lüthi: "The team and I are very happy about this result. The second half of the season was exceptionally strong. Personally, I'm very proud of the vice world title, especially after the setback in Brno with the accident in practice and the concussion. The victory afterwards at Silverstone heralded the turnaround in the world championship. After this victory, which nobody expected, we have constantly made further progress. The race today was anything but easy. Like most of my opponents, I had problems with tire grip on the rear wheel and was constantly driving on the limit. In the second part of the race, however, I was able to increase the rhythm and once again get everything out of the machine and myself. That was enough for second place. A special thank you goes to chief technician Gilles Bigot."
www.tomluethi.ch
www.motogp.com
Photo: Archive
