Unlucky Lowes counts cost of crash-strewn weekend

After being robbed of the chance to score a podium in Jerez during the first race of the World Superbike Championship weekend, Alex Lowes’ Spanish endeavour didn’t improve thereafter with crashes in races two and three.

The Pata Yamaha rider was on course for a third-place finish behind his team-mate Michael van der Mark in race one but for his controversial clash with Jonathan Rea, which left him nursing a shoulder injury.

Worse was to follow, however, with Lowes sliding off into retirement in race two and coming down again in race three, even if he’d recover two laps down to finish 14th and pick up a mere two points.

A disappointing outcome to a weekend that promised much, Lowes was taking the positives of his strong pace at least.

“It’s been a tough weekend here in Jerez. In Race 2 I was pushing to make up places after starting from tenth on the grid, because I knew we had the pace to run with the guys at the front if we could get there.

“I got pushed wide in turn two, which is a bit tight when everyone arrives at the same time on the opening lap, and I slid off. Not what I was hoping for, but the bike was working really well at this track, we had good speed and we were consistent.

“Unfortunately, we were also a bit unlucky. We need to focus on these positives and continue working so in the same way so that we come back stronger in Misano. Congratulations to Michael and the team on the win today.”

Having started the weekend ahead of van der Mark, Lowes has now slipped to fourth in the standings with a huge swing in points now placing him 48 points behind.