Gresini Racing Moto2 star Sam Lowes ended the second day of testing in third place on the combined timesheets after working on his race consistency and setting his quickest lap on a tyre with 16 laps on it.
The Derby-based rider, who switched to Kalex machinery with the Federal Oils-backed team this year, was around the top of the timesheets all day but says he didn’t get involved in a time attack.
“It was a fantastic day, because we made a really good step in the last session: working for the race pace I clocked 1’59.9 in a 10-lap run, on lap 16 of the tyre, so I’m really happy and impressed with that time. Then, at the end of the session, I made again 1’59.9 for three consecutive laps, working again on race pace, not pushing for the lap time. I’m feeling really good, the team is doing a great job and we found a good direction. Tomorrow we will keep working on the same direction, in order to improve further,” said Lowes.
Danny Kent, the reigning Moto3 World Champion, continued to focus on making small refinements to his Kalex. He managed to maintain his spot inside the top ten with a 2’00.519, placing him ninth on the combined times. The time came during the second session of the day when the Brit was fifth.
“It has been a very productive day and we’ve ended the second day of testing really happy. We’ve learned a lot and my consistency with a used tyre is good, we’ve made a big step forward compared to previous days. In terms of this we are really happy. Unfortunately in the last session we put in a new rear tyre but we had a few problems,” said Kent.
“We know in Moto2 there seems to be a few problems, sometimes you get a good rear and sometimes you get a bad rear, this time we got a bad one. Still, we’re now inside the top ten and only half a second behind the top five. For the amount of time since I’ve been in Moto2 I think me and the team are doing a good job. It’s all going in the right direction and we’re getting closer to the front.”