Sam Lowes returned to the Moto2 podium for the second time in 2020 after storming to third during a thrilling 10-lap sprint at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, brought about due to red-flags in the opening rain-halted run. 

The weather turned just before the start of the Moto2 race, as unexpected rain threatened for the first time all weekend but just as Lowes was gaining momentum riders were notified of the rain and the red flags were brought out.

The grid for the restart was determined by riders’ positions on lap six of the original race, leaving the Marc VDS rider to line up seventh. It was an all-action start for the Briton, battling first with Jake Dixon - who had also re-started on row three - and then with Luca Marini as he rose from ninth to fifth by the half-way point in the race.

The former World Supersport World Champion then settled into a brilliant rhythm, setting a fastest lap on both his sixth and seventh time around, the latter, a 1:36.195, remaining the fastest lap of the race.

Soon he was closing on Marco Bezzecchi in the fight for second but was unfortunately out of time to challenge the Italian. Lowes crossed the finish line in third, just 1.1 seconds behind leader Enea Bastianini, for his second rostrum of the season, and his first at the Adriatic track. 

The result sees the Brit climb two places in the World Championship to sit fourth on 83 points, now just 42 behind title leader Marini, with seven rounds remaining.

When asked about his ‘elbow’s out racing’ style during the sprint race Lowes exclaimed “It was a 10-lap race! Well done to Jake, I think he finished sixth so well done to him but he was obviously really aggressive in the first laps, then me and Luca had a bit of a back-to-back but it was all clean, this is racing! This is why we love the racing and I enjoyed it a lot.

“It was an eventful Sunday but in the very first start, just as the red flag came out I was starting to feel good, I’d made my way into a good position and with the hard tyre I knew that I would be strong at the end so it was a shame for the red flag. 

It was a strange race with the rain when it came in the first one, it was totally unexpected so to come away with a podium, I’m happy. It was a fun race. I had the pace to chase down the guys in front. It was a nice battle, great to get another podium, the first podium here in Misano for me and I’m looking forward to Barcelona next week.

“Obviously missing Qatar, not being perfect in the first races, the mistake in Austria, the championship is too far, maybe but it’s nice to be battling, nice to be in the fight with these guys, and there’s still a lot of racing to do.

"If I can start getting some race wins and some good performances in then it’s possible but I’m really proud of myself, proud of the team after two good weekends.

"Obviously last weekend we started from pit lane so the team deserve this podium. Next weekend we’ll be in Barcelona at a track that I love. We’ll go there and try to be even better!”