When Sam Lowes was forced to withdraw from the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix due to a pre-season shoulder injury, he probably n💯ever imagined he'd be on top of the Moto2 World Championship with three rounds to go.

But th🐬at's the dream situation the rejuvenated Marc VDS rider finds himself in, after storming to tཧhree victories in a row - his first grand prix wins since 2016 - to climb seven points clear of Enea Bastianini (Italtrans).

Another former title leader, Luca Marini (VR46),&nbs⛎p;completes a trio ꦆof Kalex championship contenders, 23 points from the top.

"We arrive in a new situation this year because we lead the classification and we are ready to fight for the🥀 World Championship," Lowes said. "It's really exciting and motivating, but we don't hﷺave to change our approach or way of working.

"We have three intense races ahe🍸ad 𒀰of us and we must not lose our concentration. Let's hope the good weather is with us and we can enjoy a good first weekend in Valencia.”

Lowes' previous best result in Valencia 💫w🧔as a fourth place in 2016.

"Valencia is a track that I like. I have reached the top five, but not yet the podium," he said. "I enjoy riding on this track, it has complicated parts, good overtaking points and I especially like the last sec🦋tor.

"I want to work to keep th🌱e good feelings of the last races here.🌟"

Apart from Qatar and Styria, where he was disqualified after a braking mistake led to a collision with&n𒉰bsp;Somkiat Chantra and Jorge Navarro, Lowes has scored points in all of the other ten Moto2 rounds this season, finishing no lower than eighth.