Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia
Breaking news

Marc VDS confirms Luthi for 2018 MotoGP season

Thomas Luthi will join Marc VDS Honda for the 2018 MotoGP season, it has been announced, completing an all-rookie line-up for the Belgian squad.

Podium: race winner Thomas Luthi, CarXpert Interwetten

Podium: race winner Thomas Luthi, CarXpert Interwetten

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Thomas Luthi, CarXpert Interwetten
Podium: Thomas Luthi, CarXpert Interwetten
Thomas Luthi, CarXpert Interwetten
Jack Miller, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS
Jack Miller, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS
Jack Miller, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS
Hector Barbera, Avintia Racing

Luthi will end an 11-year tenure in the 250cc/Moto2 class, during which he has so far collected 10 victories and the 2016 runner-up spot.

He is currently in second place in this year's Moto2 standings as well, 26 points behind his future teammate Franco Morbidelli.

Luthi completes a brand new line-up for Marc VDS, whose current riders Jack Miller and Tito Rabat are both set to ride Ducatis in 2018 for the Pramac and Avintia squads respectively.

The 30-year-old Swiss was chosen over Aprilia outcast Sam Lowes and Honda World Superbike rider Stefan Bradl, while Scott Redding was also linked with a Marc VDS return before signing for Aprilia.

"There were a number of options open to us when we were looking for a MotoGP rider for the 2018 season, but Luthi was the unanimous choice, despite him being a MotoGP rookie," said team owner Marc van der Straten.

"A former 125cc World Champion, his consistency over seven seasons in Moto2 has been incredible, with a sixth place in 2013 the only time he's finished outside the top five in the championship.

"He's been a constant thorn in our side in the intermediate class and this year is no different, with his consistency again making him a serious threat to our title aspirations.

"Tom is a good fit for our team and I am both happy and proud to welcome him to the Marc VDS racing family."

Luthi is the third confirmed rookie on the 2018 MotoGP grid, joining Morbidelli and LCR's Takaaki Nakagami, who will also both be riding Hondas.

Avintia Ducati is now the only team yet to reveal its 2018 riders, with a question mark remaining over who will partner Rabat at the Spanish outfit.

2018 MotoGP rider line-up so far:

TeamRiders
Repsol Honda

 Marc Marquez

 Dani Pedrosa

Movistar Yamaha

 Valentino Rossi

 Maverick Vinales

Ducati

 Andrea Dovizioso

 Jorge Lorenzo

Suzuki

 Andrea Iannone

 Alex Rins

Aprilia

 Aleix Espargaro

 Scott Redding

KTM

 Pol Espargaro

 Bradley Smith

LCR Honda

 Cal Crutchlow

 Takaaki Nakagami

Marc VDS Honda

 Franco Morbidelli

 Thomas Luthi

Tech 3 Yamaha

 Johann Zarco

 Jonas Folger

Pramac Ducati

 Danilo Petrucci

 Jack Miller

Aspar Ducati

 Alvaro Bautista

 Karel Abraham

Avintia Ducati

 Tito Rabat

TBA

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Analysis: Why KTM is the next top MotoGP brand
Next article Tech 3 riders get new Yamaha fairing for Silverstone

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia