After a 'bonus' podium w🃏hile riding through the pain of tendonitis in Qatar, Sam Lowes admits his left wrist still isn't where he hoped it would be heading into round two of the Moto2 season at Mandalika this weekend.

The Marc VDS rider is thus likely to fܫace another teeth-gritting weekend, but Lusail proved he can s🐬till be competitive.

"I’m feeling positive because the first round was a real bonus considering how difficult it was with my left wrist 🍌issue," said Lowes, who snatched third after last corner contact between Augusto Fernandez and Ai Ogura.

"I⭕’ve had a lot of treatment, but the recovery isn’t where I want it to be. The feeling is not as good as I expected but Qatar showed I can still be competitive, and the aim will be to score more important points for the Championship while I work hard to get back to full fitness.”

Unlike the MotoGP class, Moto2 and Moto3 arrive at Mandalika with no testing experience of the new Indon🐈esian trac♓k.

But Lowes has been able to call upon the knowledge of twin brother Alex, who took part in last Noveꦐmber's WorldSBK event.

“I’m really excited to get to In🍌donesia and have the chance to ride a new circuit," Sam said. "I’ve spoken to my brother (Alex) to get some tips on the track and what 🐷is it like and he said it was really nice and enjoyable to ride.

"I’ve been to Indonesia before for sponsor events earlier in my Moto2 career and the big passion the fans have for the ൩sport in incredible. When you have that much support and know people love the sport it gives you a lot of motivation to go there and put on a good show."

As well as being the first Indonesian round since 1997, Mandalika will be the first motorcycle grand prix in South East Asia since 201🐽9, before the Covid pandemic.

VR46🍸's Celestino Vietti leads the Moto2 standin⛎gs heading into the weekend, after a commanding six-second victory over Aron Canet in Qatar.