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Misano WorldSBK: Lowes bounces back despite grip problems

Yamaha’s Alex Lowes took one WorldSBK Superpole race podium away with him from Misano, but he continued with some high and some low points this weekend – which was still a huge improvement on a nightmare Jerez.

“I struggled in that last race,” said Lowes about Misano’s fourth behind his old friend Leon Haslam, “I struggled to pass Leon. I felt that my pace was quite strong at the start, but me and the other Yamaha guys were struggling in the hot conditions for grip.

That is why Marco and Sandro tried the SCX for the long race, to try to get some grip. I thought it was a bit risky so I used the normal race tyre. I was struggling quite a bit on the corner exit. My bike felt good on the entry, to be honest.”

Only Haslam proved a podium bridge too far for Lowes in the final race, After Lowes had been second in the sprint behind Bautista. “I could not get past Leon in race tTwo – he did not make any mistakes, so I had to settle for fourth. On a hot greasy track like that, after Jerez and some DNFs. I just needed to finish.”

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Alex led the wet opening race on Saturday - and until he fell he had not put a foot wrong in terrible and ever changing conditions. Ask Jonathan Rea, who said he felt for Lowes on Saturday after he got caught out in the changeable track situation.

“I made a mistake but it was not really a big mistake,” said Lowes. “I arrived at the corner and there was a lot more water than I expected. But I rode really well. This weekend it could easily have been two podiums and a fourth. I am quite happy how I have come back since Jerez and obviously Donington is next and I will try to be on the podium again.”

A home race; a special thing? Does it make a difference for Lowes? He joked, “Not really, there are about 17 British riders in there so it is everybody’s home race. I am looking forward to it; Michael won both races there last year, so that means the bike works quite well.”

Lowes had a moving grandstand seat to see the Haslam and Melandri contacts. “They clashed in turn two because Leon was on the outside of Marco and Marco tried to lean on Leon, be a bit aggressive. But he was not far enough in front of Leon, who had the track position,” said Lowes.

“Marco tried to go in the corner but there was no space. So he hit him a little bit. But when Marco crashed he was just a little but wide and a little bit fast. Leon didn’t do anything.”

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