Lowes pondering ‘three Moto2 options’ for 2018
On the eve of his first home grand prix as a MotoGP rider, Sam Lowes has revealed he is mulling over a handful of offers to return to the Moto2 class, after acknowledging he will not line up on the MotoGP grid in 2018.
In the wake of losing his Aprilia seat for next year to fellow Englishman Scott Redding, and with Marc VDS Honda’s announcement that Thomas Luthi would take the second seat in their squad, Lowes is now considering “three options” in the intermediate category, one in which he has emerged victorious on three occasions.
According to the 26-year old, each option is with a different chassis manufacturer. Lowes confirmed two of those (CarXpert Interwetten and Forward Racing - one of whom may presumably switch from Kalex to another frame), and believes he will know more about his future plans by Sunday.
And while he had hoped to remain in the premier class for a second straight season, Lowes stated the aim is now to return to Moto2, challenge for the world title and “get my spot back in MotoGP.”
“OK, I won’t be in MotoGP but the situation is what it is and I have a lot of people to prove wrong and a lot to prove to myself,” he said. “If I can go to another championship – obviously the first choice is Moto2 – and fight for the title and prove that I can still win and get my spot back in MotoGP.
“That's the target at the moment and luckily because it is only a year since I was in Moto2 and doing quite a good job I have options; and I am happy about and grateful for. If I can go into a winning team then it will be a good situation.
“I have a nice relationship with Kalex,” he said. “They helped me a lot and also I helped them with my experience when I came from the Speed-Up I gave them a lot of information, and that relationship stuck. Since I’ve left Moto2 then another manufacturer came in there and that's on the cards.
“What I want is to go back and feel wanted – this is the first thing – and prove to myself that I can do a job. Right now we have three main options with three different chassis and you can probably guess what they are. I want to be in the best situation to fight for the world championship.
“Moto2 is a tough class and I have been there before and know how hard it is. I’m not talking out of line when I say if I went back there I’d be in with a chance of winning. It is not being unrealistic and the decision will be with someone who will be behind me.
“The preference is more on the situation than the chassis but there are a lot of chassis that will do the job. There are two that I’m favouring now. The goal is to come back to MotoGP so if I could have something that ties it in then great, if not then I will just go there to try and win.”
Lowes continued, stating his desire to go to a place where he is made to feel wanted by those around him. “I’ll explain it like this,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of meetings in the last eighteen months and in Austria I had three meetings and a phone call from Moto2 teams wanting me.
“I spoke on the phone with a Moto2 team manager for three minutes, put the phone down and it was the first time I felt that I’d been spoken to in a really good, positive way in a long time and it was a great feeling.
“I want to go back, earn that respect and come back to MotoGP as a World Champion and if I don't do that then I don't deserve to come back and I accept that…but if I go back to Moto2 and win the World Championship then I think I deserve another shot. It’s nice.
“I feel confident and like I had a plan. If it happens I can hold my head high and if it doesn't then it wont be for the lack of trying. It is a nice situation to be in but I’m not trying to make it sound better than being in MotoGP – it would have been great to be successful and stay there – but good things can come out of it.
“Of course it is quite late in the season. Nothing is sorted yet but by Sunday I will know a lot more but you don't have to be too imaginative to see what the option are. I have a situation now where I could 100% sign tomorrow and with teams that are winning this year. It’s a good thing.
“We all know Grand Prix racing is tough and I am trying to make the best situation. I need to find confidence and the best feeling and I need the right people behind me for that.
“I’m enthusiastic for the second half of this year and I’ve had a nice meeting with Aprilia and the staff to clear the air. Me and Romano [Albesiano – Aprilia racing chief] had a nice chat and we’ll work hard together. I still have some MotoGP races left.”
