Currently second in the provisional standings of the Moto2 World Championship, Tom Lüthi will join the Marc VDS team next year to race in MotoGP. We took stock of this near future, but also the current situation, with its chief mechanic Gilles Bigot.
What do you think of Tom Lüthi's move to MotoGP next year?
“In the career of a motorcycle rider, being able to reach the highest category is a dream. For Tom it comes at a time when he is performing well, so it's a godsend that Marc VDS made him this offer and he had to seize the opportunity, he had a taste of MotoGP last year in doing two tests for KTM and he was won over.
Will you be traveling with him to Marc VDS in 2018 or will you stay at CarXpert Interwetten with Sam Lowes?
“Yes, I’m on the trip with Tom, he asked me to accompany him. Ramon Aurin, Jack Miller's current chief mechanic, is going to LCR for Takaaki Nakagami.
What do you think of the choice of Sam Lowes to replace Tom in Moto2 at CarXpert Interwetten?
“Sam is a very fast driver who never gives up, he needs to calm down but for sure he will fight up front.
Franco Morbidelli wasn't very comfortable last weekend at Silverstone, but neither was Tom Lüthi, who finished fourth behind the third-placed Italian. How did your British GP go?
“We had a difficult weekend at Silverstone. Tom was suffering a lot from his arm on the bumps and to make matters worse during the qualifying session I made a bad choice in the settings during our last run.
“When I realized my error in judgment, there was no longer enough time to get Tom in, change the settings and have enough time to set a time, (the lap time being over 2 minutes and exit from the box to the line is 2'30 mins). It was certainly at this moment that part of Tom's race was decided because, unable to improve, he started from the third row.
“To make matters worse, at the start of the race Alex and Franco set off at a breakneck pace. Our settings were much better for the race but Takaaki Nakagami and Mattia Pasini had found something extra that we didn't have.
Tom has 194 points in the Championship, compared to 223 for Morbidelli, a gap of 29 points. There are 6 GPs left, so that gives you an average of 5 points per race to go back. Do you think this will be possible?
“You have to finish all the races to score points and if possible on the highest step of the podium.
“The competition is very strong, we have to fight and be stronger against a Franco Morbidelli who is very solid and also many other opponents, including Alex Marquez, Mattia Pasini and Takaaki Nakagami.
“And in Misano all the Italians are going to be excited! »
Tom Lüthi's team. Gilles Bigot is second from the left.
Photos © CarXpert Interwetten
