Yamaha's Alex Lowes was magnanimous in defeat after yesterday's Suzuka Eight-Hours, saying the Kawasaki deserved the win they were eventually given after rulebook confusion.
Lowes, plus team-mates Michael van der Mark and Kats Nakasuga, were originally declared victors when Jonathan Rea crashed on oil supplied by an exploding SERT bike with three minutes left to run but after someone read the actual rules, KRT were named winners.
"It's a shame that a great race ended like that. Kawasaki rode the best over the eight hours and entering the last part they deserved the win," Lowes told bikesportnews.com from 35,00ft.
"Race direction probably should have put the safety car out to finish the race in a neutral way then we could have had the real Suzuka ceremony and finish with Kawasaki winning. It’s embarrassing for us to go up on the podium and everything then to get the result changed.
"Rea's last stint was incredibly strong and we fought really hard to get ourselves back into second place. It was a great effort by the whole Yamaha team. I was happy with the way I rode all weekend and the team should be happy with what we have achieved."
