Quartararo – what went wrong?
Key podium proves Lowes’ strength
Becoming world champion isn’t just about winning races, just ask Joan Mir, it’s about being consistent, mentally strong, race savvy and confident in your own abilities. It’s these traits that Sam Lowes brilliantly showcased at
Jerez as he picked up a crucial podium to stay within three points of Moto2 title leader Remy Gardner. This was a real test and Lowes’ third place is just as, if not more, important than his Qatar victories. After such heartache at the first corner at Portimao, the Jerez comeback backed up the Brit’s genuine title credentials and the improved mindset that we’ve witnessed over the last year.
Yes, Lowes admitted he felt nervous prior to the race. Yes, he struggled in the middle of the race and made mistakes, but he kept calm, regrouped, and pushed forwards again. He was rewarded for his actions with a 21st career Moto2 podium that further showcased his mental strength.
Having Gardner in his sights will have helped. The Brit got past and finished ahead of the Aussie, again. It’s 2-0 to Lowes when the duo have battled wheel-to-wheel on the track and that’s significant. Beating your closest rival provides you with a psychological advantage in races, like the one Andrea Dovizioso often had over Marc Marquez. Gardner will be wary of this moving forwards. Lowes joined first-time winner Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marc Bezzecchi on the podium. Raul Fernandez was fifth and all five are now covered by 17 points. The battle for the Moto2 crown looks like it could be the most thrilling and unpredictable in years. Of course, the intermediate class crown isn’t the only prize they’re looking for –
MotoGP is the ultimate target. Di Giannantonio has been linked with a seat in the relaunched Gresini satellite team, with the manufacturer yet to be confirmed, whilst Gardner and Fernandez have obvious links to KTM. Fernandez is being monitored by Yamaha, Ducati and Aprilia. But what about Lowes? Due to his age, and unhappy stint with Aprilia in 2018, he may be at the bottom of that race. However, he is the best-performing Brit in GP right now and with the UK being an important market for Dorna, you’d like to think they’d be keen to get a Brit rider back in the premier class. Time will tell, but for now the focus switches to Le Mans and its unpredictable weather forecasts. Lowes won in the wet last year and he’ll be confident of challenging once more for the top podium step.