‘Unfinished business’ for Lowes ahead of ‘fun’ Moto2 season

Sam Lowes is heading into his third year with Elf Marc VDS confident but under pressure as he looks to challenge for the Moto2 title.

After a rollercoaster 2021 season in terms of both fitness and results, Lowes is hoping for third time lucky, if his wrist doesn’t have other ideas that is. Tendonitis struck during preseason testing with the 31-year-old having to pull out of the majority of Portimao track time.

Despite the injury complication [see more here] and the missed track time, Lowes is confident of the work put in across preseason with his Marc VDS squad.

“The first two tests were quite good really,” he confirmed. “Honestly Valencia I felt good, Jerez in the laps I did, it was a bit windy, but I felt strong and obviously we missed Portimao. I’ve only been really working with the new chassis a little, which is not massively different so I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything on that side. Already we had quite a good base setting, also from last year as it’s not so different. We haven’t done much work on the softer tyres or really no work on the softer tyres. Dunlop at the end of last year they did a couple of tests with Moto2 and also this winter they’ve brought some softer tyres and their attitude is to maybe go a little bit in the softer direction for the allocation this year. So maybe missing a little bit with that but also the people that have done [that work] have done it at Portimao, which is a lot different track to Qatar so I’ve missed a little bit but I don’t think it’s massive.

“If I can be fully healthy and fully fit I don’t think I’m going to be far off in Qatar.

“The bike, as much as it’s a new bike is very similar to last year. Very similar, like very, very similar! I know it’s a new chassis for this