Lowes Fast, Then Crashes

Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha) was not running a transponder on his new YZF-R1 machine on his first test day at Jerez but independent sources say he did a 1’40.8 best to make him the quickest rider on day three – with no WSBK riders out on track who had already tested on Monday and Tuesday.

Lowes was to fall late in the afternoon when trying a new gearchange point at turn three, the same corner Mick Doohan fell at so injuriously many years ago. Lowes dislocated his left shoulder and took a severe beating in his fall and has subsequently been withdrawn from the final two days of testing.

Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Yamaha) was reputed to have set a 1’41.3 on his R1, despite trying out several changes of chassis and geometry on a dry and consistent track surface.

Of the riders running transponders Nicky Hayden (Honda WSBK) had a strong day of action, setting a 1’41.612, just edging out Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati WSBK) as both riders went through several test items.

New Barni Racing WSBK Ducati rider Xavi Fores was third quickest of the transponder riders, happy to be in WSB for a full season in 2016.

Leon Camier’s MV Agusta benefited from the electronics advances Marco Melandri and the team had made on day one and two of the test, with Camier setting a 1’42.099. He had done a 1’41.7 in qualifying in the race last September.

Coming back from his second significant vertebrae injury of the 2015 season Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing Ducati WSBK) set a 1’42.5 after 53 laps, building himself back up in speed and confidence.

Severe forearm pain for Michael van der Mark (Honda WSBK) saw him stop riding after only 30 laps today, and then it was decided later to not ride again at these tests but go to see specialists in both Belgium and England to find the source of his problem.

WSS rider Patrick Jacobsen worked on the new electronics, with no traction control fitted (to match in with the 2016 technical regulation changes), running his Ten Kate CBR600RR to a 1’43.977 on medium race tyres.

A plethora of MotoGP machines also lapped Jerez today on their new Michelin tyres, including Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez.

 

Wednesday Transponder Times.

 

1 69 Niki HAYDEN USA TEN KATE RACING HONDA  1:41.512 

2 7 Chaz DAVIES GBR ARUBA IT. RACING-DUCATI DUCATI  1:41.595 

3 12 Xavi FORES ESP BARNI RACING TEAM DUCATI 3 1:41.809 

4 2 Leon CAMIER GBR MV AUGUSTA AUGUSTA  1:42.039 

5 34 Davide GIUGLIANO ITA ARUBA IT. RACING-DUCATI DUCATI  1:42.525 

6 60 Michael VD MARK NED TEN KATE RACING HONDA  1:42.556 

7 99 Patrick JACOBSEN USA TEN KATE RACING HONDA  1:43.977