Sam Lowes: I'll be there to fight!

UPDATE: Sam Lowes fastest on day two at Jerez.

Sam Lowes may not have topped the pre-season timesheets so far, but the Englishman is confident his focus on race pace will result in a victory challenge on his Moto2 return in Qatar next weekend.

"I think we've done a good job in winter testing," said Lowes, who set the ninth fastest individual lap time (+0.568s) at the start of the final pre-season test at Jerez on Tuesday.

"We've not really shown too much in testing - I haven’t pushed for a lap time and whenever we put a new tyre on the bike, we have a full tank of fuel.

"But we've done some really good laps over race distance and in Qatar I'll be there to fight!

"It's a nice feeling after last year, to be able to fight with the guys and make a good job."

Rain is once again a threat at this week's test, but the former Aprilia MotoGP rider is feeling so comfortable on his Swiss Innovative Investors KTM that he would have been happy to head straight for the opening round.

"Honestly, I feel like I could go to Qatar now," said Lowes, who has previously won Moto2 races for Speed-Up and Kalex.

"Of course in our sport, whether it's MotoGP or Moto2, you can always try something else. So you always want another dry session.

"But last week we missed a day in Valencia [due to the weather] and I went to bed last night thinking it was going to be wet all today.

"I'd like a little bit more time, but as I said to the guys I'd have happily gone to Qatar even before this test.

"I feel like this bike is my bike now. I think we've more or less got the base set-up. Maybe we are one change away in the front from where we want to be, but we've got time to find that and we're in a good direction.

"I feel like this winter has been good. I've not shown my hand too much and I feel like I can win in Qatar.

"That's the goal and I think I'll not be far away..."

Testing at Jerez concludes on Thursday, with opening practice in Qatar taking place on Friday, March 16.