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MotoGP Brno: Lowes confident of Aprilia seat in 2018

Britain’s Sam Lowes is confident of retaining his Aprilia MotoGP seat in 2018 as negotations between team boss Romano Albesiano and other riders appear to have ceased. However, Albesiano has stated the Brno and Red Bull Ring races could be crucial to the Lincolnshire rider’s future.

Among the four rookies who this year switched from Moto2 to the premier class, the 27-year-old Lowes has been struggling more than his colleagues. Monster Yamaha riders Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger have scored podium finishes, and Alex Rins has had to recover from injuries.

Several times this season, Albesiano has been asked about Lowes’ future and once again, on Thursday at Brno, the Aprilia Racing boss repeated that: “Aprilia’s strategy this year was to hire an experienced rider and a rookie. We trust in Sam but he needs to make another step forward in terms of results. Brno and Austria could be two crucial rounds for next season.”

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In the past weeks there were talks between Andrea Iannone and Aprilia. Albesiano didn’t deny the interest but the negotiations have to be postponed to the end of the 2018 season. Danilo Petrucci was another serious candidate for a seat on a factory Aprilia for next year.

We sat down with Lowes at Brno to get his take on the situation:

At Brno MotoGP enters in the second part of the season. What marks would you give yourself for the first nine rounds?
“I would give me a six or seven. It’s a learning process and I expect a step forward in the second half of the season, especially in terms of results.”

Has the fact that Zarco and Folger have scored podium finishes put more pressure on you?
“MotoGP is a difficult and demanding class. If you look at Rins, he is not far from me. The Yamaha is maybe an easier bike to ride for a rookie. I think our bike has potential, we just need to understand how to use it at its best.”

Romano Albesiano said that Brno and Austria will be will be crucial for your future. How do you feel?
“For me every MotoGP race is crucial. I have a three-year contract with two years in MotoGP. For me the situation is clear. I’m a rookie so I need to learn and improve my results, but I see myself on the Aprilia in 2018. The negotiations for the contract renewal will be at the end of next year.”

What have you learned from Aleix Espargaro?
“I like him a lot. Now I’m starting to ride the bike more like him. It has been good. The relationship is strong.”

Are you using some new items this race weekend?
“Both myself and Aleix have one bike equipped with a new airbox, new exhaust system and new seamless gearbox, the same as Aleix has used in the last races. The second bike is like the machine we raced with until the Sachsenring.”

Do you have some more material to test on Monday?
“Yes, we have so many parts that we need to evaluate and also some new geometry settings.”

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