LOWES FASTEST
Briton shows again he’s a contender for the 2019 Moto2 crown
Sam Lowes once again stunned the Moto2 paddock with blistering pace in the final preseason test of 2019 and will go into this weekend’s opening race in Qatar clear favourite after topping the three-day outing at Losail. Once again ending a test not only fastest but clearly the most consistent, the Briton acknowledged he was one of the middleweight class favourites after a difficult 2018.
On Sunday, the final day of the test, Lowes put in a time good enough for fifth on combined standings on the final lap of his 22-lap race simulation. Being able to go even faster on new tyres while many of his opponents are unable to even match him on used rubber, means he goes into race weekend knowing he can win. “You’ve got to be realistic and keep your feet on the floor, but that works both ways. If you’ve got a chance to win, then you’ve got to try and go for it, too,” he told MCN. “There’ll be races where I don’t have the chance to win, but I do in Qatar because unless four or five people miraculously find half-asecond a lap, I’m going to be in the fight to win. Mistakes can happen, but I’m crashing less, the rhythm is there and there’s no reason why I can’t win.”
As he goes into 2019 looking a completely different rider, it seems like the planets have aligned for Lowes. Back with a team that he loves and working closely with chassis manufacturer Kalex (who rate his feedback highly), with a new Triumph engine that plays to his strengths and able to use his MotoGP experience to get an edge on Moto2’s new electronics, it looks like Lowes not only has the package to win in Qatar but be a title contender as well.
No wonder, then, that Lowes also looks to be enjoying his riding more than in recent years.
“It could have gone one of two ways this year, because last year was s**t and people treated me like s**t. We haven’t gone racing yet this year, but everyone in the paddock has done a lot of days of testing and we’ve all been together and I feel like I’m strong. I’ve got good people around me, I’ve got a good bike, I’m fast, and I’m proud of myself for the way in which I’ve been able to get back to that point.
“Testing is testing, I know, and a lot of people will be fast this weekend in Qatar, but I’ve worked really hard to get a good base setting on the bike and we’re going to be fast at places where people haven’t done a load of testing. “It’s still going to be a close race because they’re going to catch me up, but with the way we’re working and the confidence I have, I think we’re going to be in a good way on Sunday and for the rest of the season.”