Lowry tests Hodgson’s Yamaha

Ian Lowry starts his Spanish Moto2 campaign this weekend but could make a dramatic return to BSB at Oulton Park on May 3 if Neil Hodgson is still recuperating from the shoulder injury he sustained in the first BSB round of the year at Brands Hatch.

Lowry tested the Motorpoint Yamaha R1 at Oulton and team boss Rob McElnea said: “We explained how the bike needed to be ridden to get the best from it. He did exactly what we said and clicked with it straight off.

“We’re not sure how long Neil is going to be out. He saw a specialist straight after Brands but was told to give the shoulder time to settle down after the crash and then a proper assessment could be made of exactly how bad the injury is and how long he’ll need to make a full recovery.

“We should have a better idea later this week once Neil has been back to the specialist.”

McElnea said there were no plans to run a second rider on the spare Motorpoint Yamaha this weekend.

Lowry finished and impressive fifth in his rookie BSB season last year on a Relentless Suzuki

 Unable to secure a BSB berth this year, he secured a ride with the newly-formed JMW FOGI team to race a British-built FTR in the Spanish CEV Buckler Moto2 championship.

Spearheading the JMW FOGI team are former GP star Jeremy McWilliams and Angus Borland.