Luthi to graduate to MotoGP from 2018

Bengaluru, August 24: Veteran Swiss rider Thomas Luthi will graduate to MotoGP next season with Marc VDS Honda, the Belgian team announced on Thursday.

Luethi, 30, is in his eighth season in the Moto2 category and finished runner-up in 2016 behind French rider Johann Zarco, who is now in MotoGP with Tech3 Yamaha.

The 2005 world champion in the 125cc class will be partnered at the team by current Moto2 championship leader Franco Morbidelli of Italy.

Luethi was also previously a test rider for KTM before their MotoGP debut this season.

"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," Marc VDS team boss Marc van der Straten said in a statement.

With Luthi signing with Marc VDS, just two slots remain open on the grid for 2018 -- that of the Avintia Team.With Luthi signing with Marc VDS, just two slots remain open on the grid for 2018 -- that of the Avintia Team.

There is no change at the top as the main protagonists -- Honda (Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa), Yamaha (Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales) and Ducati (Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo) are set to continue with the same line-up.

This tweet pretty much sums up the 2018 line-up

With Tom Luthi signing with Marc VDS, just two slots remain open on the grid for 2018.

Who would you like to get the rides? #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/HjsecjUUdB
— #BritishGP 🇬🇧🏁 (@btsportmotogp) August 24, 2017