Test boosts Lowes back to best of the rest

KRT’s Alex Lowes was back in the mix at Magny-Cours with a run of three finishes directly behind the WorldSBK big three.

Few riders have had as complicated a time in the past few years as Kawasaki’s Lowes. Injury, recent debilitating illness and simple bad luck at times have held him down among the midfield rather than being the first rider behind the leading trio, but in Magny-Cours that is exactly what he was. Fourth in all three races, having qualified a second row starter each time.

“Three fourth places, naturally you’re disappointed because it would have been nice to have a podium, but I think it was a solid weekend’s work,” said Lowes in the media scrum.

Lowes was up against some straight-line fast Ducatis again, from Bautista down. “We lack a little bit of speed, especially when the tyres are new because it’s too easy for people to pass us and very difficult to pass,” the now 32-year-old recognised. “So, when your bike is a little bit down on speed you have to pass from further back so, it’s more difficult to pass. But obviously, our bike is very good in other areas so, there’s always a compromise.

“Certainly at the start of the races, you have to really risk a lot on the brakes to pass, and it’s not easy. I’m not as confident as Johnny [Rea] to do these big moves. For me, I’m a little bit more wary and it allows guys to pass me a little bit too easy. We’re at the level now where it’s easy to go from fourth to seventh and then so hard to come back. So, this is an area we need to work on a little bit.”

Lowes was also asked about the crash with Rea and Alvaro Bautista. He said on Sunday, “I still haven’t seen the video of the last race but I guess Jonny was diving up the inside. Alvaro, even though everybody thinks