Moto2 frontrunner Tom Luthi will step up to MotoGP next season alongside current title rival Franco Morbidelli with the Marc VDS Honda team.
Swiss rider Luthi was 125cc world champion in 2005 and finished runner-up to Johann Zarco in last year’s Moto2 title race.
He is currently 26 points adrift of future team-mate Morbidelli in the 2017 Moto2 standings in second having tallied up one win and eight other podiums from the first 11 races.
Numerous riders had been linked to the seat such as Brits Sam Lowes and Scott Redding, and even Honda World Superbike rider Stefan Bradl.
“There were a number of options open to us when we were looking for a MotoGP rider for the 2018 season, but Thomas Lüthi 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.”
In the midst of his best season to date in grand prix racing, Morbidelli penned a two-year contract with current team Marc VDS to step up to the premier class during the Dutch TT weekend.
Jack Miller’s signing to Pramac Ducati for next season left the Belgian outfit in need of a replacement, with ousted Aprilia man Sam Lowes and Honda World Superbike rider Stefan Bradl originally tipped to take the Australian’s place.
After Karel Abraham, Takaaki Nakagami and Scott Redding secured their places at Aspar, LCR and Aprilia respectively last week, only the two Avintia Ducatis remain up for grabs.
It is thought both bikes are close to being taken, with current Marc VDS rider Tito Rabat and one-time Moto2 race winner Xavier Simeon set to complete the Spanish team’s line-up in 2018.
