Moto2 Le Mans France Course: The return of Sam Lowes to business

For this Moto2 version of the French Grand Prix, Joe Roberts qualified in pole position for the third time in his Grand Prix career and for the third time this season, with Qatar and Brno. This is the first time an American has qualified on pole position three times (or more) in a single season in any Grand Prix class since Nicky Hayden in MotoGP in 2005, and the first time this has happened. has been produced in the intermediate class since John Kocinski in 1990 (seven times).

This is the second top position of an American rider in Moto2 at Le Mans, since Kenny Noyes in 2010. Joe Roberts will aim to become the first American to win in the intermediate category since John Kocinski in Australia/1990. However, only one rider has won in Moto2 since pole at Le Mans: Francis Bagnaia in 2018 ...

Joe Roberts will he succeed in his business? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far…

Moto2™ Le Mans	2019	2020
FP1	1'36.894 Andrea Locatelli	1'51.279 Kasma Daniel
FP2	1'36.551 Brad Binder	1'37.400 Jorge Martin
FP3	1'40.581 Steven Odendaal	1'36.490 Joe Roberts
Q1	1'49.102 Thomas Lüthi	1'36.731 Enea Bastianini
Q2	1'49.055 Jorge Navarro	1'36.256 Joe Roberts
Warm Up	1'37.796 Remy Gardner	1'36.859s Sam Lowes
Course	Marquez, Navarro, Fernandez	Lowes, Gardner, Bezzecchi
All time lap record	1'36.188 Francesco Bagnaia 2018

Sam Lowes qualified in second position, equaling his best Le Mans Moto2 qualifying of 2015. This is the eighth time this season he has qualified in the top six. He took pole in San Marino despite starting from the pitlane.

Remy gardner qualified in third position, which is the third time this year he has qualified in the top three with Austria, when he was on pole, and San Marino, but he did not take the start of this race due to injuries suffered during the warm up.

George Martin, who crashed in Q2, qualified in fourth position, which is the sixth time this year that he has started from the first two rows of the grid. He finished in 20th place in last year's Moto2 race at Le Mans.

Marco Bezzecchi qualified in fifth position, which is the eighth time this year that he has started from the first two rows of the grid. Luca marini, championship leader, who fell in FP2, qualified in sixth position, which is the first time he has started on the front row since Styria. His best result at Le Mans on Moto2 is 12th place in 2016.

Problem with Joe Roberts' rear tire on the starting grid. His mechanics are busy around his machine...He will start from the pits.

It is Lowes who will therefore benefit from pole position. Canet will not start either following his fall this morning. There will be an operation this evening on the little finger affected this morning.

It's off and it's Gardner who takes the lead in front of Martin and Virginie. Bezzecchi and Lowes bring up the rear of the top5. Finally Roberts made a flying start... which raises questions...

Lowes goes on the offensive and passes Bezzecchi and Martin, he is 3rd. He goes straight to Virgo and is now placed in 2nd place. The Briton took the lead the following lap ahead of Dixon and Gardner. Virgo and Bezzecchi are 4th and 5th.

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1315272310501376000

Stolen start for the Pole Biesiekirski.

Martin crashes in turn 10.

The top 10 is as follows with 21 laps to go: Lowes, Dixon, Virgo, Gardner, Bezzecchi, Fernandez, Di Giannantonio, Luthi, Baldassari and Manzi. The championship leader, Marini, is in 14th place.

Lowes and Dixon are neck and neck. Duel between British...!

Chute de Virginie, violent high-side in turn 10!

With 19 laps to go, Dixon took the lead in the race to the detriment of Lowes who missed out. However, he remained 2nd.

16 more laps and the top5 is as follows: Dixon, Lowes at 3s, Bezzecchi, Gardner and Fernandez. Marini falls in the ranking to 18th.

“Long lap Penalty” for Bulega.

Roberts continues his comeback, he has just passed Bastianini, he is now in 12th place. He gets rid of Manzi on his way, he takes 11th position.

Lowes made the effort and gradually returned to Dixon's wheel.

10 laps are still to be completed and in front Dixon holds on to Lowes. Bezzecchi, Fernandez, Gardner, Luthi, Di Giannantonio, Baldassari, Schrotter and Chantra bring up the rear of the top10

Retirement for Bulega 9 laps from the final.

Navarro crashes in turn 3.

The top 10 is as follows 5 laps before the checkered flag: Dixon, Lowes, Bezzecchi, Gardner, Fernandez, Luthi, Roberts, Di Giannantonio, Schrotter and Baldassari. 

Dixon crashes in turn 14. Lowes leads the race. There are 4 rounds left.

Disappointment for the British...

3 more laps and Lowes is in control ahead of Bezzecchi and Gardner. Fernandez and Luthi make up the top5. Marini, the world championship leader is 17th.

Big attack from Gardner on Bezzecchi to gain 2nd position. Victory for Sam Lowes ahead of Gardner and Bezzecchi. Marini finished 17th. 

Full results: