Lüthi on motorcycle podium
Swiss motorcyclist Tom Lüthi took third place in the Moto2 category in the San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday, in a race overshadowed by a fatal crash.
Lüthi was beaten by Toni Elias and Julian Simon of Spain.
The crash in the 12th round involved the 19 year-old Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa who was being closely pursued by Scott Redding of Britain and Alex de Angelis of Italy. Tomizawa fell, hitting his head on the track, and was run over by the other two
Tomizawa and Redding were taken to hospital, where Tomizawa, already in a coma, died of his injuries. Redding was less badly hurt, and de Angelis did not need hospital treatment.
Lüthi, who started 15th on the grid, came up from behind to finish 11”917 behind the winner. It was the fifth time this season that he has taken a podium spot, and he still stands third in the overall rankings, behind Elias and Simon.
Elias, with 211 points, extended his lead to 83 points. Simon has 128, and Lüthi 124.
Lüthi, who will be 24 on Monday, was world champion in the 125cc class in 2005 and started racing 250cc – the predecessor of Moto2 – in 2007. He last won a race in 2006.
Another Swiss Moto2 rider, Dominique Aegerter, who was Tomizawa’s team mate, came eighth, and is 15th in the season’s rankings.
Eleven of the 17 races have now been completed.
In the 125ccm race, Switzerland’s Randy Krummenacher was ninth.
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