Fresh from making a winning start to the 2021 Moto2 World Championship campaign, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is raring to go for the Tissot Grand Prix of Doha this weekend.

• Sam Lowes and Augusto Fernandez are determined to capitalise on a strong start to the new season when they make a rapid return to the floodlit Losail International Circuit in Doha.
• The 20-lap race is scheduled to start at 1820pm local time on Sunday evening before the title race begins its long stint in Europe with a return to the spectacular Algarve International Circuit in Portugal on April 18.

/// AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ:

• Tireless work with his crew to improve the set-up of his Kalex chassis returned big dividends for Fernandez last weekend when he battled his way through from outside the top 20 to a hard-fought points scoring finish in 14^th.
• Armed with a wealth of important data collected in an encouraging first race, the 23-year-old’s clear target for this weekend is to take another significant step forward to challenge for the top 10.

“I’m confident we can be more competitive this weekend”

“I really can’t wait to start this weekend. It was a difficult first weekend but for the race we found a good direction and that gives me confidence that we can be more competitive. I can’t wait to keep working in the same way to take another step forward to being where we want to be.”

/// SAM LOWES

• An inspired display by Lowes propelled him to a commanding win from pole position in round one and he is eager to repeat his stunning success on Sunday.
• The 30-year-old’s outstanding recent form has seen him win four of the last seven Moto2 races and last Sunday’s flawless performance was the 100^th intermediate category success for Great Britain.

“I’ll try and build on the great start we’ve had” 

“It’s nice to have got that first race out of the way and to have done it with a great win is even better. There’s always so much build up to round one with all the testing and training, but the team did an amazing job, and it was the perfect way for us to start 2021. It’s good to be back on track again in Qatar and I’m guessing a lot of riders will improve and that will make it more difficult than last Sunday. I know we can improve as well, and I’ll try and build on the great start we’ve had.”