Moto2: Is it finally Sam Lowes’ year?

Sam Lowes has been trying to win the Moto2 title since 2014 with the exemption of his MotoGP season in 2017.

He has had a tough few seasons following his MotoGP move, struggling in team setups which were not strong enough to take him to the title.

For the 2016 Moto2 season, he moved to the Gresini Moto2 team and was instantly competitive on the Gresini Kalex with 2 x wins and 6 x podiums before moving to the MotoGP class.

In 2018 he returned to the class, however, was riding the KTM which at the time was incredibly uncompetitive, struggling in a team which was majorly underfunded and unable to supply him with bike updates, he moved back to the Gresini Moto2 team for 2019.

Unfortunately, the team was not as he remembered, since leaving the Moto2 team in 2016 and returning in 2019, the team lost some sponsors and were underfunded once again meaning Lowes struggled again, even on the Kalex, finishing in P16 overall in the standings.

For 2020 he moved to the Marc VDS squad, a move which was criticised by many people, however, the team saw something in him and knew he was fast. At the time, the team were the Moto2 champions with Alex Marquez, meaning this was an opportunity of a lifetime for Lowes.

In the first half the season, he was incredibly consistent, taking multiple top 5 finishes, even after missing Qatar due to injuries and being disqualified from the Styrian Grand Prix due to a crash.

Since round 7 of the season, Lowes has finished on the podium in every single race with three back to back wins in Le Mans and both of the Valencian Grand Prix’s, becoming the first British rider since Phil Read in 1971 to win three in a row in the intermediate class.

If he is able to win the next race, he will be the first British rider since Mike Hailwood in 1966 to win four back to back intermediate class races.

His form has been unparalleled in the second half the season, no one can get anywhere near him and are cracking under the pressure, for example, Marini crashing out at Aragon, then Bezzecchi out of the lead in the same race.

He has turned his career around for the better in 2020 and could be the first British intermediate class champion since Phil Read in 1971, an outstanding achievement if he is able to pull this off.

Featured image – www.motogp.com