Sam Lowes completed a stunning lights-to-flag victory at the Teruel GP to take the lead of the Moto2 World Championship, achieving a hat-trick of pole position, race win and fastest lap accolades in the process.
It was the perfect end to the recent triple-header for the Marc VDS man having mastered the 21-lap Motorland race for the second time, to win his third race in succession.
Having topped four of this weekend’s six sessions, Lowes got his best start of the season and led from the first corner. Setting an incredible pace from the outset, with the fastest lap of the race on lap 2 – a sensational 1’51.730 – the Brit concluded a faultless ride in dominant style, crossing the line 8.4 seconds clear of his nearest rival.
The 30-year old’s third win of 2020 moves him firmly into contention for the World Championship title, with 178 points, 7 ahead of second-place-man Enea Bastianini, while the achievement is the first time a British rider has won three consecutive races in the intermediate category of grand prix racing since Phil Read back in 1971.
“I really enjoyed the race. It was nice to finally get a good start and lead early," said Lowes.
“It felt really good to win by eighth seconds. I knew I had a really good chance this weekend because last-weekend in the race there were some guys as strong as me but this weekend I felt like the team gave me a better bike. Also, I’ve managed to analyse the race, improve on some areas and really use the new Dunlop tyre well so it was very positive for me.
“Last week we were strong but to win the race, first you have to finish and I felt like Bezzecchi crashed but he had the win, so I was second really. It was a great ride but I wanted to improve this weekend and today there was no doubt. I was the fastest guy all weekend, I got a good start and made the race.
“This is really important for me because there’s three races to go, I’m in a good way but to win a race like this takes so much confidence. I said to myself before these three races - Aragon being a track that I love - that if I can win these three I have a chance of the Championship. I didn’t expect some results to go my way but now we are already leading and we have a good chance.
“I’m really, really happy, the team has done an amazing job to improve from last weekend to this - that’s a sign of a great team, when they give you a few tenths that you don’t have to find yourself.
“I’m over the moon! Three wins is something that I’ve never done in my career in Moto2. It’s a massive step from where I’ve been in previous years.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me the last couple of years. I’m very different now, I’ve learnt a lot, changed a lot and this year I feel a lot more controlled and that I’m riding technically a little bit better which is helping me to be a bit more consistent. I’m on a bit of a wave at the minute with the results going as they are but we have to stay focused and see what we can do.
“I’ve not spoken about the championship too much, obviously four to five rounds ago it was not on, I was 40 points behind and it was silly to talk about the championship. Now there’s three to go, a trio, and we’re leading, so now it's definitely on!
“I’m obviously in a really good way at the minute, a few podiums in a row, three wins in a row and the team are helping me a lot. I’ve just got to keep working in the same way.
“Valencia is a track I really love and Portimao I have good memories from SuperSport, so it’s all open, I can finally dream about it and I’m relishing this pressure because the pressure to be at the front and the pressure to win a World Championship is something that I’ve dreamed about the last few years when I’ve been struggling. You dream for that pressure and now it’s here I can embrace it, enjoy it and give it everything. We’ll give it everything in these last three races!”
