MotoGP Argentina: Podium ‘not out of reach’ for Lowes

Sam Lowes and Marc VDS were one of four Moto2 teams without kit in Argentina until 2am on Saturday Morning.

After a herculean early morning effort to prepare bikes for Saturday’s non-stop schedule, Lowes will line up 11th on Sunday’s grid.

Concluding two 50-minute practice sessions on a low grip and incredibly dusty track, the Brit maintained consistent top ten pace as he assessed both tyre and bike set up ahead of the 23-lap race. The mid-afternoon qualifying left the 31-year-old unable to set a hot lap with improvements required in heavy braking areas, however, his confidence with race pace means he will aim to challenge for the podium come lights out.

“First, I want to thank the team for their outstanding work through the night,” Lowes commented from the Termas paddock. “I’m happy Tony could do a nice qualifying today to say thank you to them,” he added, after Arbolino finished on the front row, in third.

“I’m OK. I didn’t feel very good in the qualifying session. I’m missing a little bit of lap time, but my pace is quite good.

“I’m sure we can look at a few things tonight and I can improve a little bit and tomorrow we’ll be stronger,” he continued. “We’re not so far from the front. If we improve the stopping of the bike, I think we can make a nice race.

“The podium still isn’t out of reach, so we’re looking forward to challenging for that.”