SAM STORM!
Lowes dominates his rivals in the desert ‘It was a mega way to start the year’
‘I’m happy but there are fast guys out there’
Sam Lowes fired a cannon ball sized warning shot to his Moto2 rivals after dominating the opening round of the 2021 season in Qatar. The 30-year-old Brit was peerless throughout the weekend, leaving his rivals under no illusion that they will have to step up. Not only did Lowes take 25 points in Qatar, but he became the first British winner of a Grand Prix season opener since Barry Sheene at the Venezuelan GP in 1979. Continuing his form from 2020, it’s Lowes’ fourth victory and seventh podium, from the last nine races.
It also marked an incredible career turnaround. Re-wind to the opening round in Qatar 2020 and Lowes was not only absent due to injury, but the fact that he had secured a deal to ride for the title-winning Marc VDS team was being called into question. No such criticism was being voiced after this year’s race.
His performance was further proof of the level of maturity and calmness he now exhibits. Despite being in control at the front, Lowes still had to contend with high winds around the Losail circuit and the threat of a resurgent Remy Gardner, who was making his debut for Aki Ajo’s KTM squad. Still, he controlled the pace and brought it home take his seventh Moto2 victory by a comfortable 2.26s. A clear message to the paddock for sure, but Lowes is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. When asked by MCN in the post-race press conference if he had sent a strong message that he was the man to beat, he was quick to play down his achievement. His podium rivals however, Gardner and Fabio Di Giannantonio, were laughing in the background, bigging Lowes up by stating that he is ‘the man to beat.’
“Moto2 is very strong and if you start thinking like that, then that’s the time that things start to go downwards,” Lowes explained. “I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing, but I think it’s obvious that I have the speed and I’m here to fight, like these guys are. It’s definitely a message, but I’m sure they’ll be happy to reply and keep fighting next weekend.” It was a modest response from a rider who had just smashed the entire weekend and proved that his pre-season testing form was true. He’s been played up as the title favourite by his rivals and fans for weeks now including a number of MotoGP riders who have tipped him for the title, and he’s seemingly not buckling under the pressure.
“I feel good. It’s a long time since I’ve been in the same team for a second season, so that definitely makes thing easier because you come into the season already in good form. “I’m proud of the weekend, I’m proud of my speed and I’m happy with everything, but there are plenty of guys that are very, very fast and very good so we’ll just keep working. It doesn’t matter how many times you’re on the podium or win a Grand Prix, it’s winning a Grand Prix – it’s a very big thing, it’s important to me, to my life and my family.”
Sam no longer has to prove himself. He’s now the one everybody is talking up as champion elect. On the day in-which MotoGP paid tribute to Fausto Gresini, Di Giannantonio took the final podium spot for the late Italian’s team.
‘I think it’s obvious I have the speed and I’m here to fight’