Early crashes for both Augusto Fernández and Sam Lowes mean neither rider scores points at the Styrian Grand Prix.

• The 25-lap Moto2 race was the final round in the recent triple header held in the Czech Republic and Austria. It was a complicated outing for Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders Augusto Fernández and Sam Lowes, who crashed out of the action on laps one and three respectively.
• Both Fernández and Lowes now have a two-week break to recover and refocus before the season’s second triple-header kicks off at Misano for the San Marino Grand Prix on 11^th of September.

/// AUGUSTO FERNÁNDEZ, DNF

• 22-year old Fernandez came into the race in fantastic shape after improving his one lap speed in Q2 on Saturday by qualifying fourth. He showed excellent race pace in warm-up as well by ending the session third.
• After running wide at turn one on the first lap, the rider from the Balearic Islands recovered well to hold fourth place on the exit of turn three.
• But Fernández’s hopes of scoring his first podium finish for Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS ended at turn ten on the first lap when he lost the front and crashed.
• Not a rider that gives up, Fernández remounted and completed 14 laps before retiring. The result leaves him 14^th in the championship with 25 points.

“We’ll never give up and I’m sure the results will arrive soon”

“I’m so sorry for the team for this crash. It’s a shame because we’ve been working so well and so hard since the beginning of the season. This weekend everything was going well and it’s a shame. Anyway, every race we are closer to the front. It’s coming! We’ll never give up, we’ll keep working and I’m sure the results will arrive soon. Thanks to the team for the great job they’ve been doing and we’ll keep going!”

/// SAM LOWES, DNF

• A crash on Saturday morning saw the Lincolnshire rider hit the right shoulder he injured when testing in February. Despite suffering pain in the Red Bull Ring’s heavy braking areas, Lowes gritted his teeth in morning warm-up to set the second fastest time.
• The 29-year old was unable to produce a good start and lost eight positions on the first lap before quickly recovering to 14^th.
• However, Lowes comeback was halted on the third lap when he crashed when braking for turn three, taking Somkiat Chantra and Jorge Navarro down. The Englishman admitted his mistake and personally apologised to both riders after the race.
• Having remounted, Lowes then crashed for a second time at turn four. The result drops him from fourth to sixth in the championship, 28 points behind championship leader Luca Marini.

“It was a terrible race. I made a mistake”

“It was a terrible race. I made a mistake. I have to say sorry to the other riders that I hit. It’s a shame to finish the three weeks like this because we’ve been quite strong. Sorry to the riders and I’m sorry to the team for the mistake. Now I have two weeks to recover and be ready for Misano.”

/// JOAN OLIVÉ, Team Manager:

“We need to stay positive because both riders are doing a really good job”

“Today wasn’t our day. Augusto crashed on the first lap and Sam crashed soon after. We need to stay positive because both riders are doing a really good job. They are getting stronger and have a very good pace to be running at the front. We need to look at the positives. This is a championship where all the races are very close so we don’t have time to be sad. We have to be positive and look forward because we’re all doing a good job.”