First private test in Jerez

After the long winter break Tom Lüthi started this week with pre-season work on the track. On Thursday and Friday, Tom Lüthi and the LIQUI MOLY Intact GP team completed the first kilometers on his 2020 Kalex bike during a private test in Jerez.

After a downpour on Thursday morning left a wet track, the Moto2 riders found excellent sunny conditions in Andalusia for the remaining one and a half days. At the end of last year the last test planned before the winter break in Jerez was cancelled, so Tom Lüthi sat on the 2020 Kalex for the first time, and the Swiss rider made a satisfactory start to the preseason.

In January he was already back in Almeria to train with his BMW S1000RR. This was immediately apparent, as it didn't take long for him to find his rhythm and to set appealing lap times. He did a total of 105 laps over the two days and, just like his team-mate, tested the new front tyres and different tyre compounds and worked out the initial set-up settings.

After this positive start, Tom Lüthi is ready for the first official test of the 2020 season, which will take place next week in Jerez from 19-21 February.

Tom Lüthi (first test day: 47 laps / second test day 2: 58 laps)

The two test days were really important for us as we sat on the new bike for the first time. As the test was cancelled in November, it was even more important to have good conditions now. Luckily we had them, so we could use the time on the track very well and try out many interesting things. All in all it was a positive test for us and we can be absolutely happy with the first changes we have made. The feeling on the bike was also very good. The new front tyre is a bit bigger, there are different compounds which we have tested crosswise. I have been able to understand quite a lot in the short time, but of course it still needs more kilometres. Fortunately, next week we will continue with the IRTA test. The weather forecast looks good there too, which is important to be able to use the time optimally. I'm really glad that we inserted this private test, because this way we could get a first impression in advance and can start there directly next week. It was also ideal that there weren't many riders present, because the track was always open, even though you might have fewer opportunities to compare. But if you have a fast team mate, you can simply compare internally. At the IRTA test there will be sessions, which means we have less active track time. In conclusion I can say that we are on the right track, started well into the season and we can build on that now.