After once again setting the best time in the third free practice session of the Japanese GP, Saturday morning on the Motegi circuit, Thomas Lüthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) was narrowly beaten – 67 thousandths of a second – by the reigning world champion and current championship leader, Frenchman Johann Zarco, in the conquest of pole position.
Sunday morning (start at 5:20 a.m. Swiss time), Lüthi will start from the middle of the first row of the starting grid for this first of three races in a row overseas. Although he lost his politeness by Zarco, the Swiss driver still impressed with the number of very fast laps he set, a pace which confirms his great form and his ambitions for Sunday's race.
An impression that did not escape the team manager of the Swiss team, Frédéric Corminboeuf: “Tom was impressive again this morning; unfortunately, the start of the qualifying session was a little more complicated, with a problem with grip on his rear tire. Everything went back to normal with the second set of tires, he only needed very little to get pole position, but I think everyone understood that Tom would have to be counted on for victory on Sunday. . This is our goal. We will continue to work for this end of the season and for the future, namely the 2017 season.”
About 2017: the carXpert Interwetten team is now complete. Alongside young Spanish hopeful Iker Lecuona (16 years old), Zurich native Jesko Raffin (20 years old) will join the Swiss team. Brilliant eighth this year in the German GP, Spanish Moto2 champion in 2014, Jesko will thus begin his third full season in the world championship under new colors.
He said…
Thomas Lüthi (Garage Plus Interwetten, 2rd): “The most important moment of a GP weekend is of course the race. My pace is great, so that’s very encouraging. But having driven in 1'50.0 and not being on pole, it's a bit frustrating. At the foot of the podium, Johann Zarco told me: “When I saw that you were riding at this pace, I said to myself, oops, we're going to have to pass the 1'49 barrier…” He succeeded. Bravo to him. Me, after having a little problem with my first set of tires, I continued to attack until the end, I only missed some dust, but the first row is ok. I feel ready, the race will be difficult, but I like it. Now have a good night and…”
