It was as an interested spectator that the Moto2 World Vice-Champion closely followed the Valencia and Jerez tests in the MotoGP category within the Marc VDS team which will welcome him in 2018. Injured in the left leg, he was replaced on his Honda RC213V by Alex Marquez, while his technical team led by Gilles Bigot familiarized themselves with the machine.
Lüthi was in the stand and closely followed the testing progress: “In Valencia, I got to know my team and the processes, and I looked at the data. It was interesting for me to understand everything in theory. But of course I have to pilot the machine, because then everything becomes different. Fortunately, I have already experienced all this at KTM. The important thing is that I understand how the bike works. Then it will be about how the setup and my riding style needs to be adjusted. »
Tom Lüthi brought with him from the Moto2 category his technical manager Gilles Bigot to Marc VDS. Gilles already has experience in the premier class, having won the 500cc World Championship in 3 with Alex Crivillé. “Gilles is important to me as a human being. I know how he works, he is also a calm person, we work very well together, he is worth gold, I am convinced of that. »
“Of course it's MotoGP and therefore different from Moto2, but it's also just a two-wheeled motorcycle that needs to be tuned... Gilles also has to learn a lot, so it was perfect that the team could already train with a pilot seated on the machine. When I arrive, he will be able to provide me with a perfectly adapted motorcycle, I will just have to ride it,” Lüthi joked. Gilles Bigot and the 31-year-old Swiss pilot have worked together since 2016.
Marc VDS team boss Michael Bartholémy agrees with Lüthi’s point of view: “ Gilles is an interesting man with a lot of experience. I have asked him to work for me again and again over the last few years. »
“Other teams might not have taken an extra rider for testing and saved money, but I think it was important that Gilles was able to work and discover the bike during these four days of testing. »
“Gilles will need time because he doesn't know the tires, which are now an important factor in the MotoGP category. He must learn the details of tire selection and pressure. »
Photo © CGBM Evolution
Source: Speedweek. com
