The news concerning Tom Lüthi makes less noise than the identical news concerning Valentino Rossi. But it is not neutral, even if it concerns a Swiss. The 34-year-old rider and former 125 World Champion currently competing in Moto2 will retire at the end of this year. But he will remain involved in the paddock. Explanation.
It's official : Lüthi will end his racing career at the end of the season Moto2 in progress. After 19 years in the motorcycle world championship, the Bernese, 125 cc world champion in 2005, double runner-up in Moto2 and 17 times Grand Prix winner, is one of the most successful Swiss riders. Old 34 years old, he can look back on a successful career and is delighted with his new role. Because he will have one.
« Of course, the decision was not easy for me. The Motorcycle World Championship has been my second home and the majority of my life for almost 20 years ", has explained Lüthi. " I was able to experience great teamwork, celebrate great successes and, in sometimes difficult times, of course, learn a huge amount about the race and its history ».
Lüthi made his debut in the motorcycle world championship at the 2002 German Grand Prix in the 125 cc class. A year later, he competed in his first full world championship season and reached the podium for the first time in second place at the Catalan Grand Prix. Lüthi celebrated his first Grand Prix victory in the motorcycle world championship at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans in 2005, and in the same year he was crowned 125cc world champion.
Lüthi is a presenter of the Moto2 category, which has existed since 2010, where he leads the list of the best with 53 podiums. In 2016 and 2017 he finished second in the championship. In his year MotoGP 2018, however, he was not successful, on the Marc-VDS-Honda he did not gain any points. After his return to Moto2, Lüthi finished third again in the 2019 World Championship, with Intact GP he celebrated his 17th and to date final Grand Prix victory at Austin 2019.
For the current season, the Kalex driver has moved to the SAG team. The first half of the season was disappointing, with the tragic death of Jason dupasquier very close to Tom, who was the mentor of the young 19-year-old pilot. Last weekend, Lüthi returned to the top 10 for the first time in ninth place at the Austrian Grand Prix. Now he has made his decision public.
Tom Lüthi will have an essential role at Prüstel GP
The Swiss will remain in the sport even after his retirement: he will take over the management of the young driver Noah Dettwiler with immediate effect and from 2022 will assume the role of sports director in the Moto3 World Championship team and the junior team of Prüstel GP.
« Even though I say goodbye to my active career, I am happy not to have to do it from the paddock and from the bike itself ", highlighted Tom Lüthi. " For years I fought for success, for first places and for fast lap times. I will continue to do this in the future, no longer as a racing driver, but in other roles. Over the years, I have seen how essential a stable professional environment and personal development are for sporting success. That's why I'm very eager to pass on my knowledge and experience and continue working with some of my long-standing partners ».
Public chat speedweek, Florian Prüstel is already looking forward to the cooperation: “ I was looking for someone who, as a genuine and experienced expert, could take care of our pilots, coordinate their training, accompany them and support them on their way to the top. Thanks to the collaboration with Tom, we have covered all of this perfectly. With 19 years of world championship experience, he knows exactly what is important in racing, especially at the start of a career, when you first have to approach the not always easy world of international racing. I am also looking forward to giving our partners even more exciting information about fascinating races and having an expert at our side in Tom who can enable such impressions from a completely different side ».
