WSB: Lowes tests engine and chassis components in Germany

Alex Lowes and the PATA Yamaha team concluded a successful two-day test at the Lausitzring yesterday before the World Superbike series resumes at the German track next month.

Lowes spent time reacquainting himself with the WSB-spec YZF-R1 after riding in last month’s Suzuka 8 Hour race, which he won alongside Pol Epsargaro and Katsayuki Nakasuga.

The Briton put in 133 laps of the 4.255km circuit despite limited track sessions and spend time evaluating new engine and chassis compoments direct from Yamaha’s R&D department in Germany.

“It was nice to get back on the WSB bike after riding the Eight Hour bike,” Lowes said, speaking to MCN. “It was my first time at the track, it’s quite a difficult, strange layout but by the end I got in to the swing of it. We didn’t have too much to test but it was nice to get back out with some good weather for a change. 

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“It’s technical, tight and really bumpy, which makes it really challenging as it’s probably the bumpiest track we go to. We had a really good test so I’m hoping we can have a good race there. 

“The bike felt good, I thought it might take me a few runs to get back up to speed but I got into it straight away. It’s nice to be working with my crew again and I think having this bigger break has allowed them to get on top of things. This was a new project in the winter and we sort of ran out of time before the year so it feels like we’re a bit more organised now. We’ve another test in Magny Cours before the Lausitzring so I can look forward to that now.”

The PATA Yamaha team will be back on track in another test at Magny Cours in early September before the final four WSB rounds get underway, starting with the Lausitzring on 16^th September. 

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