Remembering Luis Salom

Luis Salom will be remembered for his hard riding, his valiant Moto3™ title challenges in 2012 and 2013 and his dedication to his family

Luis Salom, Stop and Go Racing Team, Grand Prix of Qatar

Born in Palma de Mallorca on 7 August 1991, Luis Salom began racing from a young age and quickly progressed through the Spanish ranks. From the moment he stepped on the bike he was a fighter, almost always up against the odds. In 2007 he joined the Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup, scoring second in his debut before taking victory at the fourth race of the year in Assen. He remained in the championship for 2008, winning four out of the first five races and battling with American JD Beach for the title, Salom missing out by just four points.

His World Championship debut came in 2009 as a wildcard at the Spanish Grand Prix, riding a 125cc Honda to 23rd place. He would go on to contest the last ten races of the 2009 season with the WRB Team, scoring a best finish of sixth at the British GP.

In 2010 a full time ride awaited briefly with the Lambretta team, scoring a point in the second round before swapping to the Stipa-Molenaar Racing squad on an Aprilia, taking nine top ten finishes. The Portuguese GP saw him take fifth, continuing to raise his profile within the World Championship.

2011 saw him ride with the RW Racing GP team, again on an Aprilia RSA 125. Together they achieved a sensational first podium at the Dutch TT, Salom taking second at the team’s home round. He would repeat the result at the Australian GP later in the year, ending eighth overall. Known as 'El Mexicano' by his friends, his nickname became known by more and more as his popularity grew.

RW Racing and Salom remained together in 2012 and took eight podium finishes on the Kalex KTM. The highlight of the year came in Indianapolis when he snatched the first win of his career, beating Sandro Cortese by 0.056s. He would only have to wait four races for his next win, again beating Sandro Cortese but this time in Aragon. Salom finished the inaugural Moto3™ championship in second.

His efforts in 2012 earned him a ride with the prestigious Red Bull KTM Ajo team and immediately impressed, winning the first race of the year in Qatar. The opening eight races of the 2013 season saw him take four wins and never step off the podium. He went on to take three additional victories and came into the final round of the year as one of three title contenders, eventually finishing third.

Across his years in the lightweight class he developed a reputation as an incredibly aggressive and emotional rider, exciting his fans with every overtake. He took a total of 22 podiums, nine wins and four poles in the lightweight class. He may have may never lifted the title but he was seen as a champion in the eyes of many and his move to the intermediate class was hotly anticipated.

It took just three races for him to score his first Moto2™ World Championship podium, taking third in Argentina. At round six, just three races later, he went one better and took a stunning second place finish in Mugello. His second season with the Pons team proved to be more challenging, taking eight top ten finishes but struggling for consistency otherwise.

2016 saw the SAG Team come together with Salom, the Mallorcan paying them back immediately with second at the opening round in Qatar. A teary Salom took the podium, thanking his mother and family for sticking it out through the hard times. He was once again enjoying riding, again ready to head out on his Kalex each weekend and push to the maximum. The paddock has flooded with tributes to the memory of Salom.