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Ducati WorldSBK rider tipped to be “back at full power” at Assen
Sam Lowes has been tipped to be “back at full power” at the Dutch WorldSBK after riding injured in Portugal.
Sam Lowes should be “back at full power” at the Dutch WorldSBK on 17–19 April, according to one of his rivals.
The order of the entire top-five was identical in all three races at the Portuguese World Superbike round on 27–29 March, including Sam Lowes in fifth. Just ahead in all three was Alex Lowes, and the two brothers are now separated by only five points in the championship, with Alex fifth and Sam sixth.
Heading to round three, the Dutch Round at Assen, then, the two are fairly close rivals, but Bimota’s half of WorldSBK’s Lincolnshire twins is expecting his Ducati-mounted brother to be more competitive in the Netherlands after he rode injured in Portimao, following wrist fractures sustained at the Australian Round.
“It’s always nice to be in front of him,” Alex Lowes joked, speaking to WorldSBK.com after Race 2 in Portugal.
“He’s done a great job this weekend. I know his injury, it’s not easy, especially at a track like this and, to finish in the top-five in all the races, really happy for him.
“I think by Assen he’ll be back at full power because his speed this weekend was close to the front, but 20 laps – it’s not easy when you’ve got an injury.
“So, I look forward to trying to stay in front of him at the next round.”
By Sam Lowes’ own admission, it had been a “tough weekend” in Portugal, but he was pleased to take three fifth places as a result.
“It has been a tough weekend for me and that’s what I expected coming back from the injuries, so I’ve got to be really happy with the results we’ve achieved,” he said.
“Friday was a big boost to be fastest in both sessions, and I’ve been able to show good pace across the weekend. I wasn’t far off podium pace in Race 2 and three fifth places and a lot of points collected is something I would definitely have signed for on Thursday.
“I still don’t think we are showing our full potential just yet, but I have a great team behind me and we know the Ducati package is very competitive, so when I’m fully fit I’m sure we can take another step forward.
“I left Australia with my arm in a cast wondering if I’d even be able to race here in Portimao, so I’m really proud of myself to dig in and get to the end in all three races.
“I was struggling in the last four laps of Race 2 but didn’t lose my concentration and kept focused and it was great to get another top five.
“Now we can focus on being stronger physically for the next round in Assen because that is a track I love.”
Assen saw Lowes take his first pole position in WorldSBK last year, as well as a podium finish in the wet Superpole Race.
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Sam Lowes has been tipped to be “back at full power” at the Dutch WorldSBK after riding injured in Portugal.
Sam Lowes should be “back at full power” at the Dutch WorldSBK on 17–19 April, according to one of his rivals.
The order of the entire top-five was identical in all three races at the Portuguese World Superbike round on 27–29 March, including Sam Lowes in fifth. Just ahead in all three was Alex Lowes, and the two brothers are now separated by only five points in the championship, with Alex fifth and Sam sixth.
Heading to round three, the Dutch Round at Assen, then, the two are fairly close rivals, but Bimota’s half of WorldSBK’s Lincolnshire twins is expecting his Ducati-mounted brother to be more competitive in the Netherlands after he rode injured in Portimao, following wrist fractures sustained at the Australian Round.
“It’s always nice to be in front of him,” Alex Lowes joked, speaking to WorldSBK.com after Race 2 in Portugal.
“He’s done a great job this weekend. I know his injury, it’s not easy, especially at a track like this and, to finish in the top-five in all the races, really happy for him.
“I think by Assen he’ll be back at full power because his speed this weekend was close to the front, but 20 laps – it’s not easy when you’ve got an injury.
“So, I look forward to trying to stay in front of him at the next round.”
By Sam Lowes’ own admission, it had been a “tough weekend” in Portugal, but he was pleased to take three fifth places as a result.
“It has been a tough weekend for me and that’s what I expected coming back from the injuries, so I’ve got to be really happy with the results we’ve achieved,” he said.
“Friday was a big boost to be fastest in both sessions, and I’ve been able to show good pace across the weekend. I wasn’t far off podium pace in Race 2 and three fifth places and a lot of points collected is something I would definitely have signed for on Thursday.
“I still don’t think we are showing our full potential just yet, but I have a great team behind me and we know the Ducati package is very competitive, so when I’m fully fit I’m sure we can take another step forward.
“I left Australia with my arm in a cast wondering if I’d even be able to race here in Portimao, so I’m really proud of myself to dig in and get to the end in all three races.
“I was struggling in the last four laps of Race 2 but didn’t lose my concentration and kept focused and it was great to get another top five.
“Now we can focus on being stronger physically for the next round in Assen because that is a track I love.”
Assen saw Lowes take his first pole position in WorldSBK last year, as well as a podium finish in the wet Superpole Race.
Sam Lowes should be “back at full power” at the Dutch WorldSBK on 17–19 April, according to one of his rivals.
The order of the entire top-five was identical in all three races at the Portuguese World Superbike round on 27–29 March, including Sam Lowes in fifth. Just ahead in all three was Alex Lowes, and the two brothers are now separated by only five points in the championship, with Alex fifth and Sam sixth.
Heading to round three, the Dutch Round at Assen, then, the two are fairly close rivals, but Bimota’s half of WorldSBK’s Lincolnshire twins is expecting his Ducati-mounted brother to be more competitive in the Netherlands after he rode injured in Portimao, following wrist fractures sustained at the Australian Round.
“It’s always nice to be in front of him,” Alex Lowes joked, speaking to WorldSBK.com after Race 2 in Portugal.
“He’s done a great job this weekend. I know his injury, it’s not easy, especially at a track like this and, to finish in the top-five in all the races, really happy for him.
“I think by Assen he’ll be back at full power because his speed this weekend was close to the front, but 20 laps – it’s not easy when you’ve got an injury.
“So, I look forward to trying to stay in front of him at the next round.”
By Sam Lowes’ own admission, it had been a “tough weekend” in Portugal, but he was pleased to take three fifth places as a result.
“It has been a tough weekend for me and that’s what I expected coming back from the injuries, so I’ve got to be really happy with the results we’ve achieved,” he said.
“Friday was a big boost to be fastest in both sessions, and I’ve been able to show good pace across the weekend. I wasn’t far off podium pace in Race 2 and three fifth places and a lot of points collected is something I would definitely have signed for on Thursday.
“I still don’t think we are showing our full potential just yet, but I have a great team behind me and we know the Ducati package is very competitive, so when I’m fully fit I’m sure we can take another step forward.
“I left Australia with my arm in a cast wondering if I’d even be able to race here in Portimao, so I’m really proud of myself to dig in and get to the end in all three races.
“I was struggling in the last four laps of Race 2 but didn’t lose my concentration and kept focused and it was great to get another top five.
“Now we can focus on being stronger physically for the next round in Assen because that is a track I love.”
Assen saw Lowes take his first pole position in WorldSBK last year, as well as a podium finish in the wet Superpole Race.
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