Sam Lowes sets the fifth fastest time of the combined sessions while Augusto Fernández is eleventh. Getting comfortable and finding rhythm aboard their official machines was today’s goal for both riders.

• After a four-month suspension of racing, the MotoGP World Championship roared into life once again at the Jerez-Ángel Nieto Circuit, where hot, challenging temperatures greeted the riders.
• The Jerez track was the scene of a packed day of official testing in which all three Grand Prix categories were out on track alongside the MotoE World Cup.
• Sam Lowes and Augusto Fernández completed two 40-minute sessions. The Brit finished the day with the fifth best time while the rider from the Balearic Islands ended Wednesday in eleventh place.

/// AUGUSTO FERNÁNDEZ: 11th, 1’42.851, 34 laps

• After riding with a different bike (Yamaha R1) during private tests, Augusto dedicated the morning session to getting familiar with his Moto2 machine after the long break.
• Dusting himself off and recovering his feelings and rhythm were the objectives of the first session of the day in which the rider from the Balearic Islands completed 18 laps and set a time of 1:42.851.
• The afternoon session was used to test front tyres, continue working on the pace and start making set-up adjustments for the race on Sunday.
• The Spanish rider recorded the eleventh fastest time in the combined standings (1’42.851) after completing 34 laps.

“The important thing today was to find my rhythm and fluidity on the bike”

“I’m happy that I was able to ride my bike again and regain the feelings that I’ve been missing. We worked a lot and I’m very satisfied with how we did it. Perhaps I am not so pleased with the time that I set, but that’s not to say I’m worried. The important thing today was to find my rhythm and fluidity on the bike. In the afternoon we worked with the tyres and it cost us a little more than in the morning. We have a lot of work ahead but I can’t wait to get down to it on Friday!”

/// SAM LOWES: 5th, 1’42.597

• The British rider’s excitement at getting back was obvious from the start. Despite having limited time aboard his 2020 Kalex because of a shoulder injury and the forced stoppage, Sam set the third best lap of the morning session with a time of 1’42.597.
• Getting comfortable aboard the bike was the main objective throughout the 16 laps that Sam completed in the morning during which he also tried the different tyre options.
• Reconfirming his impressions in FP1 as well as gaining experience remained the main objective in the afternoon session on a track with different conditions due to the increase in ambient and track temperatures.
• The Lincoln rider ended the day with 31 laps and the fifth fastest time of the combined classification (1’42.597), only two tenths of a second off the fastest rider of the day, Spaniard Jorge Martín.

“We worked hard and in the right direction”

“In general I’m very happy with how the day went. We suffered a bit in the morning since I didn’t have a good feeling with the front tyre but taking into account the time it had been since I last rode the bike, that’s normal. We worked hard and in the right direction. After getting injured on the first day of preseason in February, I’ve been waiting for this day to come. I think I’ve been smart, and I was completely focused on getting back to racing, being calm and concentrated. I want to thank the team and sponsors for the trust they’ve placed in me, especially after these difficult times. I think we have a good base to start working on Friday. I can’t wait to start the Grand Prix!”