Lowes Tops Moto2 Test
S
am Lowes (Elf Marc VDS
Racing Kalex) ripped around
the Losail International Circuit on
the final day of the 2021 Qatar
Moto2 preseason test, setting the
fastest lap of the three days with
a 1:58.655.
The Briton headed Sky VR46's
Marco Bezzecchi by 0.013 sec-
onds and day-one leader, Red
Bull KTM Ajo's Remy Gardner,
by 0.048 seconds, with day-two
pacesetter Xavi Vierge dropping
to fifth behind Petronas Sprinta
Racing teammate Jake Dixon.
Day three was a much im-
proved one for Bo Bendsneyder.
Using the Japanese NTS chassis,
the Dutchman went from 15th on
day one to sixth at the end of day
three, a mere 0.249 seconds
from leader Lowes.
The final day of testing proved
frustrating for Italtrans Kalex Ameri-
can Joe Roberts, who went steadi-
ly down the timesheets across the
three days. After finishing day one
in third and dropping to 10th on day
two, Roberts went further down
the timesheets to finish 14th on day
three, crucially behind compatriot
Cameron Beaubier.
In contrast to Roberts, Beau-
bier's test got steadily better, after
taking 25th on day one, 19th on
day two, and 13th on the final out-
ing. The five-time MotoAmerica Su-
perbike Champion closed the gap
to the front from 1.001 seconds on
day two to 0.695 seconds on day
three, ending the test satisfied and
ready for this week's round one.
"Just taking everything step-by-
step," Beaubier said. "The level
of this class is incredible. I was
only a second off yesterday and
I was in 19th! How fast everyone
is and how fast they get up to
speed is really impressive. Slowly
chipping away. We're not too far
off, even though we're pretty far
down the timesheets, but it's a
reasonable goal. It's early days."
In the Moto3 category, title
favorite Jaume Masia (Red Bull
Ajo KTM) stuck in a 2:04.263 lap
to lead rookie teammate Pedro
Acosta, with Dennis Fogia taking
third.
CN
2021 Qatar Moto2 Test—Day Three
1. Sam Lowes Kal 1:58.655
2. Marco Bezzecchi Kal +0.013
3. Remy Gardner Kal +0.048
4. Jake Dixon Kal +0.182
5. Xavi Vierge Kal +0.216
13. Cameron Beaubier Kal +0.695
14. Joe Roberts Kal +0.706
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 12 MARCH 23, 2021 P29
Sam Lowes
delivered the
fastest time to
take the unofficial
"world champion
of testing" title, as
he put it.
Remy Gardner's
pace has been
ominous at each of
the preseason test
venues. The Aussie is
looking good on his
new Red Bull KTM
Ajo Kalex.
