Moto2: Lowes leaves pre-season testing on top

Swiss Innovative Investors KTM rider Sam Lowes has finished the 2018 Moto2 pre-season in the best position possible, ending the final three days of testing at Jerez secure at the top of the time sheets after making the most of conditions yesterday to set a time that couldn’t be beaten on the final day.

Running in mixed conditions but able to get a solid run in fully wet conditions in this morning – and gathering more valuable data in the process – he says he’s ready to race at the opening race of the season next weekend in Qatar, telling MCN yesterday:

“I’m happy to go to Qatar now, especially after so many days riding round and round Jerez! But the team’s great and the bike is great and it’s nice to have been able to test so much for the bad weekends, because it means we’ve tested that much I have info on what works and what doesn’t now. That’s experience I’ve brought back from MotoGP, because last time I just wanted to be fast all the time, and working on understanding everything and going forward from it will be something we can really use come the races.”

Teammate Iker Lecuona made it a one-two for the Swiss squad in second, while Red Bull KTM Ajo racer Brad Binder was able to lock out the top three for the Austrian manufacturer, with Francesco Bagnaia, Xavi Vierge and Alex Marquez rounding out the top six for Kalex.

Former world champion Danny Kent was 14^th, admitting afterwards that the weather meant the test was far from perfect with the amount of work he and the Speed Up team needed to get through.

“Unfortunately, we were very unlucky with the weather, which is not what we wanted because we needed as much time on the track for me and the team to find the right direction to Qatar. We were able to do four dry sessions due to bad weather but anyway I think me and the team did a great job in such short time. We know where we have to improve and I feel confident that we can do well!”