ABOUT TOM

Tom Lüthi, a young Swiss, began his motorcycle road racing career in 1997 at the tender age of eleven, where he competed successfully in the local pocket bike championships. After completing his first two years by finishing in the top 3 and scoring a few victories in 1999 and 2000, he changed to the ADAC Junior Cup where he was classified overall in sixth position. In 2002, he came third in the IDM German Championship and second in the 125ccm European Championship. Following this he was given the opportunity of making his debut in Grand Prix motorcycle racing and took part in seven races the same year. Among his achievements was a very promising ninth place in Estoril.

In 2003, his first full season of the world championships, Tom was ranked second after Dani Pedrosa, following an exciting duel in Catalonia. However, due to a lack of consistency, he finished the year overall in fifteenth place. For the road racer from Oberdiesbach, 2004 was something of an annus horribilis as he crashed a number of times and sustained injuries. His best result was 11th place in Sepang and he completed the season with a disappointing 25th place.

In 2005 he gathered all his talents and even during the winter trials it was clear that he was one of the strongest riders in the 125cc class. Finally, with four victories and a total of eight places on the podium, he became 125cc world champion. Unfortunately, 2006, once again, was a year marked by many injuries and Lüthi was unable to defend his title. In 2007, Tom switched to the higher 250cc class and completed the year overall in eighth position. In 2008, riding for the Emmi-Caffe Latte Team in Mugello, Tom achieved a place on the 250ccm podium for the first time after a number of setbacks. Following a serious crash in Indianapolis where he had to retire for three races in a row, Tom completed the year and was ranked 11th.

Tom commenced 2009 riding, once again, for the Emmi-Caffe Latte Team and after 16 races only failed to be amongst the top ten four times. He finished the year seventh, his best overall result since his world championship title in the 125cc class. In 2010, the 250cc class changed to Moto2 and gave Lüthi an excellent season with five podiums and overall fourth place in the world championship classification.

After changing from Moriwaki to Suter, Tom will be racing once again in the Moto2 class in 2011. His aim is to be up there amongst the leaders and fight for the World Championship title.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TOM LÜTHI

At his Grand Prix debut in Germany in 2002, Tom Lüthi, aged just 15, was the youngest Swiss ever to take part in a Grand Prix.

In 2003, where he achieved second place at the Catalonian GP, he was the youngest Swiss ever to stand on a Grand Prix podium. This record is unbroken to this day.

Tom´s victory at the French Grand Prix in 2005 was the first GP victory of a Swiss in the 125cc class since Bruno Kneubühler claimed first place in Sweden in 1983. In securing this victory Tom was also the youngest Swiss ever to win a Grand Prix race.

By securing the125ccm world championship title in 2005, Tom was not only the youngest Swiss to hold this position, he was the first since Luigi Taveri in 1966.

Lüthi´s world championship title in 2005 was the last WM title of a Honda rider in the 125 cc class.

His victory in the French Grand Prix in 2006 was also the last victory for a Honda rider in the 125cc class.

In securing third place at the Italian GP 2008, Tom became the first Swiss to stand on the 250cc podium since Jacques Cornu’s victory at the Czech Grand Prix in 1989. Thus Tom became the youngest Swiss ever to take a place on the 250cc podium.

The young Swiss rider completed his first season in the new Moto2 class 2010 with a magnificent fourth place in the overall ranking. In 2011, with the support of Interwetten once again, he will be battling for victory in the Moto2 World Championship In 2011, Lüthi will be lining up at the start with a Suter chassis.