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Lack of British riders in MotoGP is down to 'attitude', with most preferring WorldSBK route

MotoGP is approaching a second successive season with no British riders, and Moto2's Sam Lowes believes it's down to attitude and mentality.

Cal Crutchlow often flew the flag for Britain in MotoGP, but since his retirement back in 2020, the sport has lacked any British riders.
Sam Lowes enjoyed one year in the sport with Aprilia back in 2017, but after losing his seat, he's had to accept competing in Moto2 as he looks to force his way back onto the grid.
The 31-year-old Lincoln-born rider has been racing in the Grand Prix paddock for the last nine seasons, and has managed a third-placed finish in Moto2 in 2020, along with two fourth place results in 2015 and 2021.
But Lowes stands alone as Britain's only Grand Prix rider, despite a booming popularity of participation numbers in motorbike racing in the UK.
Lowes believes the reason is due to the country's "attitude" towards Grand Prix racing, with most riders in the UK instead going down the Superbikes route.
"I think there's a couple of reasons," said Lowes.
"If you look at the national championship in England; I know there's the Moto2-style class with Supersport but it's not [the same].
"The attitude and thinking behind it is not towards Grand Prix racing. It's more towards the Supersport/Superbike way. And the level of BSB is quite high."
Lowes himself made the switch from Superbikes to Grand Prix racing, and he believes there's possibilities for others to follow suit.
"The tracks are also very different to Grand Prix tracks. It's difficult to say why. The level in Moto2 and MotoGP is so high.
"Definitely some of the guys in WorldSBK could come across to MotoGP and do well but the main thing I would say, is the idea or the mentality from a young age is to go more on the Superbikes way.

"I myself did that and was lucky to make the move to Grand Prix. Then, if we've got loads of young guys riding these bikes and improving like in BSB now; okay they've got to learn the tracks but not the bikes more-or-less, then their [bikes] should just be a bit better than their BSB bikes. So the step is easier.

"Guys are on Moto2 bikes with zero electronics, completely different riding styles, tyres and everything - it's complicated. So for me it's just the mentality at a young age.
"90% of the guys who make it in Grand Prix racing have at a young age been in Spain or Italy and have been racing Red Bull Rookies, Moto3, Moto2 - these styles of bikes."

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