Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes used a late red flag to his advantage in the opening World Superbike session at Laguna Seca as he finished in top spot ahead of Aruba.it Ducati’s Chaz Davies and Jonathan Rea.
Lowes had looked impressive in California from halfway through the session, as he moved quickly into second behind long-time leader Davies.
Kawasaki’s Rea and Davies had begun the weekend brightest in America, as the pair traded a flurry of fast laps from the off with the Welshman taking just six minutes to charge into the 1’24s.
Davies backed that up with a rack of fast laps as he went from 1’24.746 down to 1’24.101 in the opening third, with Honda’s Nicky Hayden enjoying life at his home round and sitting second at the time.
After some early time spent in the pits, it was then Rea and Lowes’ turn to trade laps as they tried to oust Davies.
Rea moved second initially with a 1’24.909 lap which he quickly bettered to consolidate his position, but Yamaha’s Lowes came flying round the 3.610km circuit soon after to slot in behind Davies.
With 20 minutes remaining Ducati’s Davies improved to 1’24.047 and then became the first rider into the 1’23s as it looked as if he would begin his American weekend top of the pile.
Rea continued to aim for Davies, as he once again made his way in front of Lowes and into second place but the Yamaha rider returned the favour with 15 minutes remaining.
A fine late performance from Honda’s Michael Van Der Mark saw him go second as the clock was counting down, but the expected late dash of riders never materialised as a crash resulted in oil on the track at Turn 11 and a red flag.
With just three minutes remaining before the stoppage, organisers decided to continue the session after a delay and only Rea and Lowes were able to make any difference in the end.
Kawasaki’s Rea was first to post a better lap in the restart as he snatched second from Van Der Mark but it was Lowes who stunned with a magnificent effort on his YZF-R1 to go top with a 1’23.912 just as the chequered flag came out.
That left Davies second at the end of proceedings, just ahead of Rea and Honda duo Van Der Mark and Hayden.
Barni Racing’s Xavi Fores was a fine sixth ahead of Pata Yamaha’s Niccolo Canepa as he continues to stand in for the injured Sylvain Guintoli.
Althea BMW’s Jordi Torres took eighth in front of Aruba.it Ducati’s Davide Giugliano and Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes, surprisingly down the order.
