Britain’s Sam Lowes has blitzed the opening Moto2 practice sessions at Qatar’s MotoGP round, topping both sessions and becoming the first ever rider to go under the 2’00 barrier for the class.
Lowes set a 1'59.717 in the first session of the evening and was three-tenths faster than Tito Rabat’s 2014 outright lap record of 2'00.081 and was well on his way to equalling that in the second period when rain began to fall sporadically.
Although it wasn’t enough water to stop the session, the Speed Up rider’s first session time wasn’t beaten and his best in the second, a 2’00.025, would have been enough for him to claim first and second on the combined sheets, if that were possible.
The Derby-based rider’s nearest rival was Johann Zarco on the Ajo Kalex but he was some 0.622 in arrears while reigning champion Tito Rabat was third and a further 0.029s down.
Axel Pons proved his testing performances were no fluke, putting his AGR Kalex in fourth place with Takaaki Nakagami in fifth place. Reigning Moto3 king Alex Marquez ended right down in 18th and 2.4s off the pace, one place in front of Mika Kallio, the rider he replaced at Marc VDS.
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