Elf Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes leaves Austria content after ‘a big step forward’ in the second Moto2 race saw him finish fourth despite the increasing temperatures at the Spielberg Circuit.

Completing the 25-lap contest just 4.4s from Raul Fernandez, and 1.6s off his teammate Augusto Fernandez, Lowes rode a strong race from the 15th pole position of his Moto2 career. Leading the first two laps of the race before the KTM attacked, the Brit settled into a consistent pace in fourth position, as the highest placed rider on hard Dunlop tyres, and comfortably clear of any challenges from behind.

“I’m really happy with this weekend because I got pole position and fought all race. I made a good start and led the first laps,” Lowes said once the dust had settled in Austria.

“I went with the hard rear tyre so I thought we’d be able to catch up a bit at the end but the track changed a lot,” he explained further.

“The lap times were different to the rest of the weekend due to the hot conditions and I didn’t feel so good in the second part but it’s a big step forward compared to last weekend. It was a competitive ride.”

Equalling his best result around the Red Bull Ring - from the first of last year’s battles - Lowes’ remains fourth in the World Championship with 114 points, 45 back of Marco Bezzecchi, after the Italian completed Sunday’s race in 10th.

“It’s a really nice result to go into my home Grand Prix because this track is a hard one for me but all weekend we’ve been strong and I was fighting for the podium. Now I’m really looking forward to going to Silverstone!” he concluded.