Samuel Deane Lowes (born 14 September 1990)[1] is a British motorcycle racer who competed in the Moto2 World Championship with ELF Marc VDS Racing Team aboard a Kalex since 2019. From 2024, Lowes remains with the same team ownership which moves into a new class of racing, World Superbikes, using a Ducati Panigale V4 R.[2]

Sam is the identical twin brother of World Superbike rider Alex Lowes, and 2024 will be the first time they have competed against one another on an international stage.[3]

Career

He won the Supersport World Championship 2013 riding a Yamaha YZF-R6[4] for Russian team Yakhnich Motorsport in the championship, as well as the 2010 British Supersport champion riding a Honda CBR600RR.

During his championship year in the British championship he scored five wins, including three consecutive wins and three pole positions, winning at Brands Hatch, Knockhill, Cadwell Park, Croft and Silverstone, along with five podium finishes. Afterward he moved to the Supersport World Championship full-time in 2011 signing for the Parkalgar Honda team.[5] In his first complete year he scored six podiums, finishing 6th overall with 129 points. In 2012, he moved to Bogdanka PTR Honda,[6] a sister team of the Parkalgar Honda, and earned two wins at the Donington Park and Aragón rounds. In 2013 he moved to Yakhnich Motorsport[7] riding a semi-works Yamaha.

Lowes at the Nürburgring in 2013

Lowes claimed the World Supersport championship in 2013 with one round remaining at Magny-Cours, finishing 2nd in the race.[8] He was scheduled to race in the World Superbike Championship in 2014 with Yakhnich, however, these plans fell through as the team decided to jump to the championship without Yamaha.

Moto2 World Championship

Speed Up Racing (2014–2015)

Instead, he opted to join the Moto2 World Championship riding with the Speed Up team,[9] signing a two-year deal with the team.

Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (2016)

For 2016 onwards, Lowes signed a three-year contract backed by Aprilia, enabling him to continue in Moto2 for 2016 with the Gresini team and a change from Speed Up to Kalex chassis.

MotoGP World Championship

As well as this, Lowes had the added benefit of being Aprilia's official MotoGP test rider, but an anticipated move to compete for Aprilia in the premier MotoGP class for the 2017 and 2018 seasons was cut short by Aprilia exercising an early-release option announced half-way through the 2017 season, replacing him with Scott Redding for 2018.[10][11][12][13][14]

Return to Moto2

Swiss Innovative Investors (2018)

Lowes returned to Moto2 for the 2018 season, riding a KTM bike for the Swiss Innovative Investors team, partnering Iker Lecuona. He replaced Thomas Lüthi, who moved up to MotoGP with the EG 0,0 Marc VDS team. Lowes finished 16th in the riders' championship, scoring 49 points, and he failed to score a single fastest lap, podium, win, or pole position for the first time since he made his Moto2 début in 2014.

Return to Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (2019)

On 21 August 2018, it was announced that Lowes would rejoin Gresini Racing for the 2019 season, replacing Jorge Navarro who will move to Speed Up.

Marc VDS Racing Team (2020–2023)

On 6 September 2019, it was announced Lowes would join Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS for 2020, where he would be partnering Alex Marquez.[15] Alex Marquez eventually moved up to the MotoGP class and was replaced by Augusto Fernández.[16]

Lowes suffered a significant shoulder injury at the British GP practice in August 2022, and was unable to race in October at the season penultimate event in Malaysia. He and his team decided to withdraw at the Sepang racetrack, and seek further advice from surgeon Lennard Funk, based in Manchester, England.[17][18][19] It was confirmed in early November that Lowes would not compete at the last event of the 2022 season in Valencia, Spain.[20]

Superbike World Championship

Marc VDS Racing Team (2024)

Lowes, along with Marc VDS, will compete in the Superbike World Championship in 2024 using a Ducati Panigale V4 R.[21]

Career statistics

British Supersport Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearBike123456789101112PosPts
2009HondaBHI
10
OUL
Ret
DON
13
THR
19
SNE
13
KNO
10
MAL
9
BHGP
7
CAD
6
CRO
DSQ
SILOUL
10
14th50
2010HondaBHI
1
THR
Ret
OUL
2
CAD
3
MAL
2
KNO
1
SNE
2
BHGP
2
CAD
1
CRO
1
SIL
1
OUL
8
1st229

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearBike1234567891011121314PosPts
2009HondaAUSQATSPANEDITARSAUSASMRGBRCZE
18
GER
16
ITA
Ret
FRA
Ret
POR
Ret
NC0
2010HondaAUSPORSPANEDITARSAUSASMRCZEGBR
10
GERITAFRA25th6
2011HondaAUS
3
EUR
Ret
NED
Ret
ITA
5
SMR
3
SPA
2
CZE
6
GBR
Ret
GER
3
ITA
2
FRA
2
POR
Ret
6th129
2012HondaAUS
5
ITA
2
NED
Ret
ITA
2
EUR
1
SMR
18
SPA
1
CZE
4
GBR
2
RUS
12
GER
13
POR
5
FRA
2
3rd172
2013YamahaAUS
2
SPA
Ret
NED
1
ITA
1
GBR
1
POR
1
ITA
2
RUS
C
GBR
2
GER
1
TUR
2
FRA
2
SPA
1
1st250

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

SeasonClassMotorcycleTeamRaceWinPodiumPoleFLapPtsPlcd
2014Moto2Speed UpSpeed Up Racing1800006913th
2015Moto2Speed UpSpeed Up Racing1815311864th
2016Moto2KalexFederal Oil Gresini Moto21826521755th
2017MotoGPApriliaAprilia Racing Team Gresini180000525th
2018Moto2KTMSwiss Innovative Investors1800004916th
2019Moto2KalexFederal Oil Gresini Moto21900006616th
2020Moto2KalexEG 0,0 Marc VDS1437331963rd
2021Moto2KalexElf Marc VDS Racing Team1835631904th
2022Moto2KalexElf Marc VDS Racing Team1202115519th
2023Moto2KalexElf Marc VDS Racing Team20112210412th
Total173102620121095

By class

ClassSeasons1st GP1st Pod1st WinRaceWinPodiumsPoleFLapPtsWChmp
Moto22014–2016, 2018–20232014 Qatar2015 Americas2015 Americas1551026201210900
MotoGP20172017 Qatar18000050
Total2014–20231731026201210950

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearClassBike1234567891011121314151617181920PosPts
2014Moto2Speed UpQAT
6
AME
16
ARG
8
SPA
Ret
FRA
9
ITA
8
CAT
Ret
NED
Ret
GER
20
INP
24
CZE
Ret
GBR
7
RSM
18
ARA
9
JPN
Ret
AUS
5
MAL
Ret
VAL
7
13th69
2015Moto2Speed UpQAT
Ret
AME
1
ARG
3
SPA
20
FRA
4
ITA
4
CAT
4
NED
3
GER
5
INP
Ret
CZE
5
GBR
6
RSM
Ret
ARA
3
JPN
8
AUS
2
MAL
13
VAL
5
4th186
2016Moto2KalexQAT
9
ARG
2
AME
2
SPA
1
FRA
6
ITA
3
CAT
6
NED
4
GER
Ret
AUT
Ret
CZE
3
GBR
21
RSM
Ret
ARA
1
JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
MAL
Ret
VAL
4
5th175
2017MotoGPApriliaQAT
18
ARG
Ret
AME
Ret
SPA
16
FRA
14
ITA
19
CAT
19
NED
Ret
GER
Ret
CZE
18
AUT
20
GBR
Ret
RSM
Ret
ARA
22
JPN
13
AUS
19
MAL
Ret
VAL
Ret
25th5
2018Moto2KTMQAT
Ret
ARG
13
AME
24
SPA
8
FRA
13
ITA
Ret
CAT
9
NED
9
GER
5
CZE
9
AUT
Ret
GBR
C
RSM
Ret
ARA
20
THA
Ret
JPN
17
AUS
14
MAL
15
VAL
Ret
16th49
2019Moto2KalexQAT
6
ARG
Ret
AME
7
SPA
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
9
CAT
9
NED
Ret
GER
11
CZE
Ret
AUT
24
GBR
Ret
RSM
5
ARA
5
THA
Ret
JPN
Ret
AUS
20
MAL
Ret
VAL
10
16th66
2020Moto2KalexQAT
DNS
SPA
4
ANC
4
CZE
2
AUT
4
STY
DSQ
RSM
8
EMI
3
CAT
2
FRA
1
ARA
1
TER
1
EUR
Ret
VAL
14
POR
3
3rd196
2021Moto2KalexQAT
1
DOH
1
POR
Ret
SPA
3
FRA
Ret
ITA
Ret
CAT
7
GER
5
NED
4
STY
14
AUT
4
GBR
4
ARA
Ret
RSM
4
AME
Ret
EMI
1
ALR
3
VAL
7
4th190
2022Moto2KalexQAT
3
INA
4
ARG
10
AME
Ret
POR
Ret
SPA
Ret
FRA
DNS
ITA
Ret
CAT
Ret
GER
3
NED
Ret
GBR
DNS
AUTRSMARAJPN
DNS
THA
19
AUS
12
MAL
DNS
VAL19th55
2023Moto2KalexPOR
7
ARG
10
AME
13
SPA
1
FRA
15
ITA
Ret
GER
7
NED
11
GBR
7
AUT
Ret
CAT
9
RSM
Ret
IND
19
JPN
Ret
INA
10
AUS
Ret
THA
14
MAL
7
QAT
12
VAL
7
12th104

References

  1. ^ "Sam Lowes". Genes Reunited. Brightsolid. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  2. ^ WorldSBK: Sam Lowes Begins Superbike Journey With Test At Jerez roadracingworld.com, 5 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023
  3. ^ Sam Lowes confident he'll be 'fighting at the front' as 2024 WorldSBK prep begins bikesportnews.com, 9 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023
  4. ^ "Super Sam storms to fourth victory". Derby Telegraph. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  5. ^ Crash.net."Parkalgar Honda signs Lowes for 2011". 3 October 2010. Retrieved on 13 October 2013
  6. ^ Crash.net."Buckmaster defends 2012 line-up".8 February 2012. Retrieved on 13 October 2013
  7. ^ motomatters.com."Sam Lowes to race a R6 in WSS With Yakhnich". 3 November 2012. Retrieved on 13 October 2013
  8. ^ WorldSBK.com. "Sofuoglu wins as Lowes is the new World Supersport Champion". 6 October 2013. Retrieved on 13 October 2013
  9. ^ MotoGP.com."Sam Lowes to join Moto2 with Speed Up". 11 October 2013. Retrieved on 13 October 2013
  10. ^ MotoGP: Lowes confident about his GP future Motorcycle News, 18 August 2017 Retrieved 8 March 2018
  11. ^ MotoGP: Redding confirmed as Lowes’ replacement at Aprilia Motorcycle News, 14 August 2017 Retrieved 8 March 2018
  12. ^ Watson, Chris (22 September 2015). "Derby-based Sam Lowes to have one more crack at Moto2 crown before joining MotoGP". Derby Telegraph. Local World. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Lowes joins Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 for 2016". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Bradl & Bautista remain with Aprilia for 2016". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015. Aprilia confirm Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista as their line up for 2016, with Sam Lowes as test rider before making the step up in 2017.
  15. ^ Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS for 2020
  16. ^ "MotoGP™ Riders".
  17. ^ MotoGP Silverstone: Lowes 'caught out, gutted, and in pain' bikesportnews.com, 5 August 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022
  18. ^ Moto2, No strength in the shoulder Marc VDS team withdraws Sam Lowes gpone.com, 21 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022
  19. ^ About me lenfunk.com. Retrieved 27 October 2022
  20. ^ Lowes ruled out of Valencia Moto2 finale bikesportnews.com, 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022
  21. ^ "Sam Lowes to make 2024 WSBK switch with Marc VDS". 14 July 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.

External links