Alex Lowes fastest at Jerez WSBK test

The Briton has come out of the blocks hard as pre-season testing begins in earnest, while for others the acclimatisation with new surrounds continued

Briton Alex Lowes has kickstarted his world superbike ‘winter’ test program in strong fashion by setting the fastest time in a two-day test session at Jerez in Spain.

With most of the factory teams in attendance after a big shake-up in the rider ranks over the off-season, Lowes took his Crescent Suzuki to a best lap of 1min40.730secs in the rain-hampered test, ahead of 2013 world champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team , 1:40.853) and Leon Haslam (Red Devils Aprilia, 1:40.865).

“We have had a lot of new software to try, but we have slowly plodded away and made some really good steps,” said Lowes. “I’m really happy with my times, on race tyres it was good and it’s also the fastest I’ve ever been round here so that’s great, but obviously it’s difficult to compare because of the track conditions.

“I’m really enjoying riding my GSX-R again and getting on well with all the new guys: I just need to stay patient and keep working hard so that when we get to round one we have a proper understanding of everything and we can then put it all into a race situation.”

Of the riders in action at Jerez, Lowes and Sykes are the only ones who have recommitted with the same teams in 2015, while the likes of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), world champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda), Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda) and Frenchman Randy de Puniet (Crescent Suzuki) continued to assimilate in their new environments.

Rea (1:41.127) was fourth fastest behind Haslam, followed by Michel Fabrizio (1:41.384) helping out at Red Devils Aprilia alongside Haslam. Red Devils is the new factory satellite team for Aprilia, which won the 2014 championship with Guintoli.

Guintoli (1:41.639) – the first world champion to defend the WSBK title on a different brand -- was sixth fastest ahead of his teammate van der Mark (1:41.651), the reigning world supersport champion and Suzuka 8-Hour winner moving up into the world superbike ranks in 2015. De Puniet (1:42.938) was a little off the pace, but the Frenchman is expected to be at the pointy end when the 2015 championship commences at Phillip Island from February 20-22.

The new Althea Ducati pairing of Nico Terol and Matteo Baiocco was also testing at Jerez, but no times were released, while the factory Ducati team of Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano wasn’t in attendance.

Meanwhile, it’s been announced overnight that Italian Ayrton Badovini will be the second rider in the new JR BMW team featuring former Aussie world champion Troy Corser as sporting director. Spaniard Toni Elias is the other rider, with the pair to campaign the updated BMW S 1000 RR, while Haslam will also have a revamped Aprilia RSV4 RR at his disposal.

In 2015, the entire world superbike field will be racing under standardised ‘EVO’ rules, which will combine Superbike class chassis with Superstock spec engines -- as well as cutting costs and increasing participation levels.

Lap times, based on some early EVO adopters, will virtually be identical to the full-spec superbikes, and the racing is expected to be even closer than ever – as well as providing an easier route into the world championship scene for national-level riders, either as a wildcard or as a permanent entry.

The Phillip Island world superbike round is a three-day event, kicking off Friday morning with racing till Sunday late featuring world championship classes of World Superbike and World Supersport and a host of national support classes include Superbike, Supersport and Moto3/ 125GP.

Early purchasers are treated to a super-priced superbike deal, so book now for the best value. A three day pass is $110 or Sunday only just $75, and cart along the kids, because 15 and under are free.

If you want to splash out a little, go for a Bar SBK pass at $250* for three days and have access to three premium, undercover viewing locations at Doohan Corner, Siberia and Lukey Heights.

Watch the World Super show trackside, and for an easy, super economical weekend, sleep there as well! The circuit campground is situated just above Southern Loop, with incredible views from Turn Two to Stoner Corner and out to Bass Strait. Sleep-in every morning, wake to the sound of tweeting birds, have your first coffee of the day overlooking the high horsepower vista, and still be trackside early - with no traffic hassles - for the first crack of the engines.

Get into the Superbike spirit and bring your prized bike, because at the World Supers, your very own set of wheels is more than welcome trackside. Cruise the spectator areas, find a favourite spot, park your machine and sit back and enjoy summer at the supers island-style.

World Superbike is February’s hottest high speed date and a great Christmas gift idea for the bike lovers in your life. Visit www.worldsbk.com.au or call the SBK toll free hotline on 1 300 728 007.

Alex Lowes fastest at Jerez WSBK test

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