Marc VDS Racing’s Sam Lowes says he will always treasure the annual jaunt to Circuit of The Americas, the scene of his first victory in the Moto2 World Championship some eight years ago.

The Briton turned a front row starting position into a comfortable victory from Johann Zarco aboard the Speed Up back in 2015, towards the start of his second season in the intermediate category.

Now a veritable stalwart of the World Championship paddock, since his debut in 2014 Lowes has notched up 155 Grand Prix starts (18 in MotoGP, 137 in Moto2), with his COTA win the first of a tally that today stands at nine Moto2 victories.

Now into his ninth season of Moto2 competition, Lowes is hoping history can repeat itself at the Texan venue this weekend to build on his modest seventh and tenth place finishes in Portugal and Argentina respectively so far this year.

“I always really look forward to going to Austin because it is a track that has great memories for me. My first Grand Prix win was there and that will always be a special memory. I enjoy riding the track, but it is certainly a tough challenge. 

“It is very long and technical, but I always enjoy the task of trying to be fast there. We’ve had a very solid start to the season and managed to collect some important points for the World Championship. 

“But you always want more and I’m sure if we can take a step forward where we need to, I can be fighting again for the podium.”

With more starts than any other rider on the current grid, Lowes currently sits eighth in the 2023 Moto2 World Championship standings.