Austin could be a pivotal weekend for Sam Lowes, who began the year with solid points for sixth in Qatar, but th🔜en fellജ after qualifying on the front row in Argentina.

With Lorenzo Baldassarri cla൩iming a perfect 50 points, Lowes is already 40 behind the Italian heading into COTA, a track where the Gresini Kalex rider has an excellent record, even if it's not one of his favourites.

The Englishman took his first grand prix win at the venue in 2015, 𝄹finished runner-up from pole the following year and made his only front row appearance on the KTM chassis at the track last season.

"I’m really looking forward to Austin: I have gr🎐eat memories of that track, and funnily enough it’s not among my favourites," Lowes said. "I won m🥂y first Moto2 race there.

"Obviously Argentina didn’t end u♈p well, but we were qu👍ick. We were also quick in Qatar and in Jerez [test], so I see no reason why we wouldn’t be quick in Austin.

"The goal is to get a good amount of points in order to get to Europe in the best possible condition. I’m having fun on the bike and I’m working well with a great team, so I’m counting dow🗹n the days…"