Excellent second in the Moto2 World Championship in 2016 behind Johann zarco and 2017 behind Franco Morbidelli, the Swiss Tom Lüthi had fully deserved to participate in the Grands Prix of the MotoGP category in 2018. His results there were perhaps not quite up to these expectations. The most experienced rider in the Moto2 paddock with 287 Grands Prix to his credit, although he is only 33 years old, has nonetheless retained significant memories of his time in the premier category.
“It was very special because in this year, 2018, Valentino Rossi had some problems qualifying, and so he was often relatively close to me” explains the native of Oberdiessbach in a podcast of motogp.com.
“It was truly extraordinary ", he still says today, “because I had Rossi posters on my bedroom walls. »
“But at the end of the day you have to do your job and try to be as fast as possible” admits Lüthi. “Unfortunately, it just wasn't possible for me that season. » The Swiss failed to score a single point, while his teammate Franco Morbidelli totaled 50 points. On top of that, there were internal feuds around team boss Michael Bartholémy, which led to Marc VDS dropping out of the top class at the end of the season. Overall, Lüthi had imagined his rookie season in MotoGP differently.
However, he did not hesitate to embark on the adventure: “It was the best offer I had ever had up to that point. There had been a lot of discussion before, but nothing that really made sense to me came out. This time it seemed to fit and make sense to me. But when I look back now, things changed very quickly. Signing the contract was a very good opportunity and I took it. »
“You learn so much more at a time when things aren’t going so well. It opens your eyes. And that's what 2018 did. I knew that after this season, I had to change things, change my preparation, my attitude too. Think new, think different. In this regard, I do not regret it. »
“Of course, when you think about it, you wonder: what would have happened if I had done this and that. But that doesn’t get me anywhere in life.” That's why he returned to Moto2 so he could fight for victories and titles. »
“That was absolutely the goal. And it took hard work to get there. A year ago, before the first Moto2 race in Qatar, I was really nervous. I didn't know what to expect, where I stood. There were so many questions in my head: “Am I still good enough, can I still keep up?” » .”
After the race, in which Lüthi missed out on victory by just 0.026, it was a huge relief for him. “I knew then that I was still good. The fact that Moto2 itself is experiencing a renaissance (arrival of the Triumph engine. Editor’s note) helped me. »
“Moto2 is still far from the level of MotoGP, there is a big difference. But the Triumph era brought us one step closer. »
“We also have a little more electronics to adjust the bike, but not as much as in MotoGP. The change was always positive for me, mentally too. I went back to Moto2, but it wasn't the old Moto2, it was something new. It was important to stay motivated. »
Source: Motogp.com / Dorna
Photos © Liqui Moly Intact GP, and Marc VDS
