TOM LÜTHI

      Swiss youngster Thomas Lüthi started racing in 1997 when he was only eleven, in
      his local Pocketbike Championship. After finishing in the top three in his two first
      seasons, he clinched a couple of titles in 1999 and 2000, before moving to the 
      Adac Junior Cup, in which he took sixth overall. In 2002, he was third overall in
      the 125cc German Championship and second in the 125cc European Championship. He then had the opportunity to make his Grand Prix debut, competing in seven races and taking a promising ninth place at Estoril.

In 2003, his first full campaign in the World Championship saw him taking second at Catalunya in a thrilling race against Dani Pedrosa, but his lack of consistency meant that he could only take 15th overall. The 2004 campaign was a nightmare for the rider from Oberdiesbach, as his season was marred by numerous crashes and injuries. His best result was 11th at Sepang and finished the season 25th overall.

However, a rejuvenated 125cc effort in 2005 saw him emerging as one of the strongest riders during winter testing, form which led ultimately him to the World title in the lower cylinder class, with four wins and eight podiums in total. But after another injury-affected season in 2006 when unsuccessfully defending his title, Lüthi moved up to 250cc in 2007 and finished eighth in the standings. Continuing with Emmi-Caffe Latte onboard a factory Aprilia machine in 2008 Lüthi finally achieved his first 250cc podium finish at Mugello after a number of near misses over the previous 18 months, but slipped to eleventh in the final rankings having missed three races due to a big crash at Indianapolis, in which he injured his left hand.

In 2009 Tom started once again with the Emmi-Caffe Latte team and missed out from a Top Ten result only in 4 of the 16 races.

Career Statistics:

Some interesting facts about Tom Lüthi:

• Thomas Lüthi was the youngest Swiss rider to take part in a Grand Prix race when he made his debut as a 15 year old in the 125cc class at the German GP in 2002.
  
• At the Catalan GP in 2003 he finished second, to become the youngest Swiss rider to finish on a Grand Prix podium – a record that he still holds.
  
• Thomas Lüthi’s victory in the 125cc race at the French GP in 2005 was the first Grand Prix win by a Swiss rider in the 125cc class since
• Bruno Kneubühler won at the Swedish GP in 1983. This win also makes Lüthi the youngest ever Swiss rider to win a Grand Prix race.
  
• He won the 125cc world title in 2005 to become the youngest Swiss world champion and the first Swiss rider to win the 125cc world title since Luigi Taveri in 1966.
  
• Lüthi’s world championship win in 2005 is the last time a Honda rider won the 125cc world title.
  
• His victory at the French GP in 2006 is the last Grand Prix win in the 125cc class by a Honda rider.
  
• He finished third at the Italian Grand Prix in 2008, to become the first Swiss rider to finish on the podium in the 250cc class since Jacques
• Cornu at the Czech Grand Prix in 1989. This also gave Lüthi the record of being the youngest ever Swiss rider to finish on the podium in the 250cc class.