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MotoGP Silverstone: Only a win will keep title hopes alive - Lowes

Britain’s Sam Lowes has said a home win at the Silverstone MotoGP round this weekend is the only way he can keep his Moto2 title hopes alive in 2016 but believes his track experience and a boost from the partisan crowd will be a big help.

The Gresini rider, who moves into MotoGP next season with Aprilia, says he has to beat Johann Zarco on Sunday and arrive at Misano with less than a 40-point gap to stand any chance of being champion in his last season in the class.

“It’s got to be a win this weekend, really. It’s a track I like, the bike has been good at every round pretty much this year. I am pretty confident and if I want to keep the championship alive I have to win at home,” said Lowes, speaking to bikesportnews.com.

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“If I leave here with less than a 40-point gap then I have a chance of the title. I am not saying I can do it but it will be a confidence. Yes, I believe I can win it. I am an outsider for it but if I can win this race, then I can have a good chance. But if Zarco beats me here, it is going to be difficult.”

Brno was something of a turning point for Lowes as it was his first proper result in the wet this year and he now has more confidence should it piss down at the Northamptonshire track.

“In the last couple of years I have been fast at Silverstone but the races haven’t gone to plan for some reason. I feel good now, relaxed and I had a good wet podium last time out so that has given me some confidence if the weather is bad,” he added.

“I loved riding in the rain in World Supersport but coming into Moto2 with a stiffer chassis and Dunlop tyres, it didn’t really click for me. I had a few crashes and you lose a bit of confidence which is what it is all about.

“Brno was important. It was a really solid ride and at the end I had the same pace as Rins but I couldn’t do him. It was really important to finish that race.

“One thing that has hampered me in Moto2 is the tracks. Places like Barcelona, Sachsenring, Mugello where I didn’t ride in Supersport but I have a ridden at Silverstone a lot and I know it well. I feel like there is a small advantage this weekend and the home support always gives you a lift - I need to make it work for me.”

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