Lowes sits out Jerez test with tendonitis

Reigning world supersport champion Sam Lowes has been forced to sit out most of the final three-day Moto2 test that concluded yesterday at Jerez, after a bout of tendonitis in his right wrist meant he was left in large amounts of pain and only able to compete five laps on the final two days.

The Moto2 rookie got off to a flying start, finishing second on the first day of testing, 0.4 back on the fastest man of the test, Takaai Nakagami, although in the absence of the Marc VDS and Aspar teams, who tested last week at Philip Island.

However, waking on day two to agonising pain in his wrist meant that the Brit was forced to sit out all of the second and most of the third days.

Lowes said: “Although it’s really frustrating I couldn’t complete the test due to tendonitis in my right wrist, I’m really happy with the times and how the bike performed this week. The first day was mega and felt awesome; we got some really good times and I was so happy finishing the day in second.”

Being Speed-Up’s only factory rider, however, meant that he was forced to return to the track on the final morning of the test, completing five laps in order to test new development parts.

“I only managed five laps today testing the new chassis, but pretty much matched the times of the old chassis so feeling really good. I can’t wait to get to Qatar now and start the season properly.”