Sam Lowes’ first victory for MarcVDS was within sight as the ninth round of the 2020 Moto2 season got underway at the Circuit of Barcelona before a small mistake with just two laps of action remaining delivered the spoils to his nemesis Luca Marini.

In cooler than expected conditions, hovering around just 18℃, the 4.6km Montmeló track offered very little grip throughout the 22-lap race, providing riders with a unique challenge as tyre management played its part in deciding the overall outcome.

Despite this, Lowes produced his strongest ride of the season, coming within 0.98s of the win after a thrilling late-race battle with Luca Marini.

Losing four positions at the start, the Brit recovered quickly finding his rhythm and posting the fastest lap of the race – a 1’43.544 – on his eighth revolution as he made his way back through the pack and closed in on the leading trio of Marini, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Jorge Navarro.

A mistake on lap seven overtaking Di Giannantonio for second was easily corrected as the hunt for the leader, over a second ahead, began. A brilliant move on Marini at the start of lap 16 granted Lowes the lead and he looked to break free of the pursuing Italian.

The 30-year-old’s first Moto2 victory in four years now looked to be within his grasp but Marini wasn’t giving up, the Sky rider retaking the lead just two laps from the checkered flag.

Lowes responded on the penultimate lap but a mistake at turn seven increased the gap once again, forcing the focused Brit to settle for second but celebrating his first back-to-back appearance on the rostrum since May 2016.

Lowes’ 14th Moto2 podium maintains his fourth position in the World Championship standings on 103 points, just 11 short of Marco Bezzecchi in third and 47 behind overall leader Marini with six races yet to play out.

Speaking in parc fermé an enthusiastic Lowes professed “Nearly! I nearly had the win!”

But when asked about the lack of grip towards the end of the race he explained “Yeah, also Luca lost the grip, it was not just me but I made a mistake in turn seven, the lap that he passed me and lost the gap.

“I think I was being a little too aggressive on the left side. I honestly was trying to save the right side, maybe it didn’t look like it but I was trying to save the right a little bit and the left side I didn’t think would be an issue but the last two laps dropped a little and I had a moment out of five when I was still in front and then when Luca passed me I lost the front into turn seven.

“It was a close race, with the pace stronger than expected. Honestly when I got to the front I tried hard. I was really happy with my own pace but Luca stayed with me, at the end I just, not ran out of steam but just made a small mistake which cost me the win, but it’s been so nice to lead a race again.

“It’s the first time I’ve led continuous laps for a long time so I feel really happy. To be so close to the win and not make it is disappointing but it was another great ride from me and it’s getting closer, it’s definitely getting closer!

We were quite far in front of the rest so it’s very positive few weeks for me and I’m very happy to have my second podium in a row. It’s my first time on the podium in Catalunya but when you’re that close to winning it’s always a little bit of a sour taste.

“It’s a really important time of the year. The races come really fast, really close together. We’re in a good direction and have some good momentum. The team have done a fantastic job. Every weekend I say it, but it’s true. The bike is always there, improving every weekend and giving me confidence.

“I’m obviously really proud of how this year is going, it’s going better than I could have thought. I copped a bit of flack joining this team and I think I’m answering a lot of questions.

“I’ve always believed in myself, I’ve had a tough run but in sports as in life that can happen. I’ve dug in, the team have done a great job, the bike has obviously been good every weekend and it’s going in a good way so I feel like I can now ride, not less than 100 per cent because I always give my all but with a bit of a margin, let’s say.

“That’s the difference, I’m not having any small issues, I feel like I can manage the races a lot better and once you do two or three races like that it’s a snowball effect in a positive trend rather than the past couple of years which have been a snowball in a negative trend. So it’s just about getting on a good wave and riding it.”