Britain’s Sam Lowes said he is devastated after a silly mistake saw him crash out of second place after only a handful of laps in today’s Qatar Moto2 race.

The Speed Up rider was sitting pretty behind rival Johann Zarco after pair pulled a two-second gap over the pack but he hit a false neutral, rolled on to the dirty part of the track and lost the front.

“I went on to a part of the track which is dusty and tucked the front. I am devastated at the moment as Tito Rabat also crashed out so it would nice to have made a solid start and get some points,” said the Derby-based rider, speaking at the circuit.

“I am really upset but I will come back stronger in America. All weekend I have been fastest and maybe let it get to me a little bit. I know everyone is going to say I crash too much but I have proved people wrong already this season and I will do it again in the next couple of races.

“Today was one stupid mistake but I felt better, a lot more in control. I can ride the bike much easier, that was a stupid mistake, I hold my hands up to criticism for that but I will prove to everyone I am not a crasher and can mount a serious title defence.”