Britain’s Sam Lowes scrapped his way to an eighth-placed finish in today’s Argentinian Moto2 race after a crash in qualifying yesterday meant he had to start from 22nd on the grid and with an injured knee.
The reigning World Supersport Champion was able to set his fastest lap of the race on worn tyres in the closing stages and passed Moto3 title holder Sandro Cortese with six laps to go but the gap to Mika Kallio in seventh was seven seconds and too much to bridge as they were setting similar times.
"It was a hard race and a difficult weekend overall with the bike settings, but I improved a lot in the warm up. The race was always going to be hard starting from 22nd, but I’m so happy to finish eighth and have shown we have good potential when everything is right. Jerez is up next and the first circuit of the year I know so I’m excited to race there again," said Lowes.
Kallio’s MarcVDS team-mate Tito Rabat was the runaway winner, crossing the line from Xavier Simeon with two seconds to spare. Luis Salom took the final podium spot with Dominique Aegerter and Simone Corsi rounding out the top five.
Gino Rea finished in a disappointing 30th place.
