Thomas Lüthi (carXpert Interwetten) takes his first victory of the 2017 season, the fifteenth of his career (5 in 125 cc, 10 in Moto2).
In Brno (Czech Republic), in a race which took place over six laps after a first interruption due to the onset of rain, the Swiss driver was impressive by achieving a perfect start from the third row – Tom was seventh from the first race to the moment of stopping -, taking all the risks on the outside of the trajectory before diving into the lead in the first corner. No one was going to see him again, Lüthi playing clearly above the rest in these precarious grip conditions. He would continue to increase his advantage, before perfectly controlling the second part of this sprint which allowed him, in a single race, to halve his delay in the intermediate classification of the Moto2 world championship (now 17 points per compared to the Italian Franco Morbidelli, eighth in this GP of the Czech Republic).
He said…
Thomas Lüthi (carXpert Interwetten, winner): “It has been a long time since I was on the top step of the podium (Australia, 2016) and I am of course very happy with this victory. The key to my domination? After tests which were not easy, I had a very good feeling this morning during the warm-up in the rain; in the first part of the race, I applied myself and was recovering well when it was stopped at the red flag. Then there was this perfect start and the fact that I immediately found my rhythm in these particular conditions. I don't want to talk about the championship, there are still too many races; I prefer to take them one after the other. I always said that as soon as an opportunity to win presented itself, I would take it, and that was the case today. Of course I was at the limit, but when the feeling with your bike is this good, you can ride at the limit.”
Brno (Czech Republic). Czech Republic GP Moto2:
1. Lüthi (SWI, Kalex, carXpert Interwetten), 6 laps (*), 13'39.036 (142.300 km/h);
2. A. Marquez (SPA, Kalex), at 4.991;
3. Oliveira (POR, KTM), at 6.983;
4. Marini (ITA, Kalex), at 9.190;
5. Virgo (SPA, Tech 3), at 11.064;
6. Corsi (ITA, Speed Up), at 15.779;
7. Bagnaia (ITA, Kalex), at 18.431;
8. Morbidelli (ITA, Kalex), at 19.743;
9. R. Gardner (AUS, Tech 3), at 19.843;
10. J. Roberts (USA, Kalex), at 20.168;
11. Navarro (SPA, Kalex), at 20.372;
12. B. Binder (RSA, KTM), at 20.547;
13. Locatelli (ITA, Kalex), at 21.657;
14. Pawi (MAL, Kalex), at 22.940;
15. Syahrin (MAL, Kalex), at 24.056.
Then: 19. Lecuona (SPA, Kalex, Garage Plus Interwetten), at 26.483; 29. Raffin (SWI, Kalex, Garage Plus Interwetten), at 38.907. 29 classified. Aegerter abandonment (SWI, Suter, technical problems).
World Championship (10/18):
1. Morbidelli, 182 points;
2. Lüthi (carXpert Interwetten), 165;
3. A. Marquez, 133;
4. Oliveira, 133;
5. Bagnaia, 87;
6. Pasini (ITA, Kalex), 73;
7. Nakagami (JPN, Kalex), 69;
8. Corsi, 63;
9.Marini, 54;
10. Virgo, 51.
Then: 11. Aegerter, 50; 26. Raffin (Garage Plus Interwetten), 5. 31 classified.
