With twenty-fourth place in the provisional ranking of the World Championship and the record for falls during the first half-season, Sam Lowes is not in the most enviable position. While the other rookies Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger are making sparks, Lowes' best result in the race is fourteenth place at Le Mans and in qualifying a good tenth position at Assen.
His discovery of the MotoGP category as a rookie was not the easiest, his Aprilia experiencing (like that of his teammate Aleix Espargaro) numerous technical problems.
For his compatriot Cal Crutchlow, “ Sam didn't get his due, that's for sure. He's been sitting in the garage more times than he's been on the track this year. He had a lot of mechanical problems and it's not his fault and he couldn't prove himself as such, I don't think.
“I understand where Aprilia is coming from, but if they look at Zarco and Rins, they are not looking where they should. Zarco's motorcycle, you don't know how easy it is to ride. And you have no idea if you put Zarco on an Aprilia or a Honda what he would do. He wouldn't be anywhere he is, that's for sure.
“He’s a good driver, don’t get me wrong. So you can't really compare and I think Sam is much better. He just needs time.
“What he's doing with that bike isn't completely bad, but it's bad. That's exactly what I did when I got here and I was looking at where I ended up. I was a m…. Then look at what I've managed to do over the years.
“I had arguments with Herve Poncharal, the first year I came here. I wanted to leave and return to World Superbike. Hervé was the one who told me that I just needed some time to stay and try to calm down. And the following year I finished fourth in the first race and got two podiums.
" It's just like that. You need to gain experience and improve. But they need to give Sam time to do it.
“The problem now is that people are comparing the drivers who come into this championship with Marc when he was a rookie. You can not do that. I see it day in and day out, because I see the data. And you can't compare with someone on a different bike – like Zarco or Rins – if we talk about Sam. I think Aprilia just needs to give him time and he will be strong, what if in the end next year it is not…
“If you put Marc on this bike now, he would be on the podium, guaranteed. So why not put pressure on Aleix Espargaro? I know Aleix was the first guy to support Sam and I'm not criticizing Aleix, I'm criticizing Aprilia.
“Aleix and Sam are both good drivers and I think they both deserve to be in the team. »
Photos © Gresini Aprilia
Source: crash.net
