Sam Lowes eased to a first Moto2 win of 2023 in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, the Brit heading Pedro Acosta by 2.8 seconds in the end.
The Marc VDS rider was left with work to do after making a slightly sluggish start that saw him drop behind Acosta as well as Speed Up’s Alonso Lopez, though an aggressive move on the latter at Turn 2 saw Lowes quickly settle back into the runners-up spot.
Not content with giving up the leading advantage though, Lowes charged back after Acosta across the opening tour before diving through on the Spaniard at the final bend to re-take the leadership.
He then proceeded to craft an advantage across the next phase of the encounter, Lowes quickly breaking the second barrier as he looked to firmly establish himself as favourite for victory.
Lowes continued to extend his lead across the remainder of the encounter as Acosta failed to find an answer for his blistering speed out in front, leaving him to eventually take the chequered flag 2.8 seconds clear of the reigning Moto3 world champion – who now shares a joint series lead with Tony Arbolino after the Italian claimed fourth.
Lopez was unable to match the pace of the lead duo as he fell nearly seven seconds adrift of Acosta by the time he crossed the line, though was able to manage the gap behind to Arbolino and a chasing Aron Canet.
Canet was forced to recover on Sunday having qualified a lowly 12th, the Pons racer carving through the pack in the early stages to sixth, though he found Arbolino and Honda Team Asia’s Ai Ogura harder nuts to crack.
He passed Ogura after the Japanese pilot crashed out after clipping the rear of Arbolino’s Marc VDS entry as the latter made a move on him for fourth, though he wasn’t able to seriously challenge the series leader and settled for fifth in the end.
Jake Dixon claimed sixth having lacked rostrum speed throughout the contest, while the sole remaining Honda Team Asia machine of Somkiat Chantra came home seventh ahead of Albert Arenas, who moved clear of a fading Filip Salac in the closing circulations.
Fermin Aldeguer completed the top ten for Speed Up, the Spaniard comfortably ahead of Sergio Garcia and Manuel Gonzalez.
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