Portimao Moto2 Test: Sam Lowes to miss final day due to 'tendonitis issue'

Sam Lowes will miss the final day of official Moto2 testing in Portimao after suffering from a lingering tendonitis problem in his left wrist.
Sam Lowes, Portimao Moto2 test, 19/02/2022
Sam Lowes, Portimao Moto2 test, 19/02/2022
© Gold and Goose

Nine-time Moto2 race winner Sam Lowes has elected not to take part in today’s final day of official testing in Portimao after suffering with an𓂃 on-going tendonit﷽is issue in his left wrist. 

The Elf Marc VDS rider, who demonstrated solid pace during the opening session of day two, could only manage 20th on combined times after a crash during the second session led to the Brit foregoin💮g S3. 

Lowes will now undergo intensive treat𓂃ment ahead of next month’s season opener at Losail, Qatar.

While optimism remains that he can be competitive during the same round he did th💫e double at last year, Lowes is also being ‘realistic’ abo꧋ut his chances. 

Lowes added: "Today I was struggling with the feeling on the bike and unfortunately the tendonitis issue is certainly not helping. I ღneed laps to find the limit of the bike and it is not ide🔜al to be in this position with the first race just two weeks away. 

"We’ve taken the decision to stop and try and recover as best as possible for Qatar, buဣt honestly, I’d like to have been more pr🎉epared. 

"I’m going to work at my maximum between now and Qatar but going to the firs🌠t race I must be realistic about what to expect and what we can achieve. 

"I’ll ke⛄ep a positive attitude and remain optimistic that we will still be very competitive at the first race."

For Lowes’ new team-mate Tony Arbolino, day two in Portimao was a solid one for the Italian who finisheဣd just under a second away from Aron Canet. 

Arbolino ended the day in 11th place after making several steps forward with the ꧒🐻set-up of his Kalex machine, however, the 21 year-old still feels ‘my true potential’ is yet to come. 

"We are improving the bike a lot on each day of testing, and I feel today was ano🧸ther v🦩ery positive day," added Arbolino. 

"The team did another incredible job and their motivation to help me and the belief they have in me𒁃 is helping a lot. 

"We are working in the right direction, but I still think there is more to come before I’m able to show my true potential. I’m ve🦹ry consistent but I’d like to be a little bit faster. 

"The good thing is I know we have margin to improve, and this is important because we are not at the limit. If we keep working like💖 this then I’ve no doubt we will be strong right from the first race."

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