Britain’s Sam Lowes has targeted a race finish at this weekend’s Qatar Moto2 season opener should he be passed fit to ride by circuit medics tomorrow.

The EG0,0 Kalex rider fell and damaged his shoulder in a private Jerez test and hasn’t ridden since but made it to Qatar before the coronavirus shutters came down to join his team who had been testing there.

“It has been a complicated winter because I was looking forward to working with my new team and preparing for the season very well, but things went wrong with the injury,” said Lowes.

Luckily the team is fantastic and my team-mate Augusto has done an immense job trying out all the new parts without my help.

“I have worked very hard on the recovery process and my shoulder is getting better and better. After the injury, my main goal was to get to Qatar and start the weekend.

“If the doctors consider me fit to compete, it will be a goal fulfilled. The next goal, if my shoulder allows me, would be to try to finish the race and ideally score some points.

“But in these cases, more than ever you have to go slowly, be realistic and see how the shoulder responds.

“My goal this year is to get back in the front positions and get back on the podium. I’m counting on speed and experience.

“I have to recover the feeling I had when I was winning races, rely on the very high quality of the team and use my experience to approach the season in the best way.

“I think I can fight for the title this year. I have to improve in some areas, but I think with this team and all the support it gives me I can step up and be there.”