Moto2: Lowes on top in unofficial Jerez test

Sam Lowes has topped the second day of unofficial Moto2 testing at Jerez today, ending the day 0.165 clear of Team Sky rider Luca Marini, on his second outing reunited with the Federal Oil Gresini squad. Strong not only on one lap pace but on race pace too, he told MCN after the day that he’s just delighted to be back working with a strong team after a disasterous 2018.

“It’s been a really good day. The new asphalt is really abrasive, so we’re on a hard tyre when normally we’d be on a soft, but that’s not working great for us. The harder one seems to suit the chassis and the engine better at the minute, but we’ll have exactly the same hard tyres in Qatar so that’s a big positive.

“I feel really good and we’ve tried a lot of things today, but really, it’s just been working in a really good way. We’re testing, but we’re doing it properly. We’re just about to have a technical meeting now, which we didn’t do last year at all, and things are going well. A few more days under my belt, no crashes, and enjoying it. My pace is real strong and it’s nice to just get back on a bike after a long winter.”

Alex Marquez was third, just ahead of Moto2 rookie and the second of the Team Sky bikes of Niccolo Bulega, with Jorge Navarro, Xavi Vierge, Tom Luthi and Fabio Di Giannantonio rounding out the top eight.

Gabriel Rodrigo was top of a depleted Moto3 grid, ahead of Sergio Garcia and Celestino Vietti. Brit Tom Booth Amos was 1.5 seconds off the pace of Rodrigo as he continues to learn the CIP Moto KTM machine.