WSB: Lowes: 'The podium was in our sights'

Alex Lowes feels missing a gear in Sunday’s second World Superbike race saw him miss out on a potential podium finish.

Starting on pole positin after his fourth place finish in race one, Lowes took the holeshot and led the race in the opening corners, but most importantly was able to hang on to the tails of podium fight as the protagonists fought through the pack.

However, a missed gear saw him lock up and run off the track at turn 14 losing a vital 20 seconds to Melandri in third place.

“I’m annoyed but it’s my first small mistake in a race this year,” he said after the race.  “It wasn’t all my fault, I haven’t been 100% happy with the shifting on the bike and just at that point I didn’t get the shift quite right and missed the gear. I ran off and that was it, 20 seconds gone right there to get back in to the race.

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“The team have done a fantastic job, my bike was great and I would have liked to be on the podium so overall I’ve got to be happy with the potential. When I got back on track my pace was similar to Marco Melandri’s but I was a long way behind. I’m upset that we had an opportunity to fight for the podium and we didn’t take it. I feel good and I really feel we have made a good step forward on the bike.

“I need to improve in the first few laps but my race pace the second half of the race is good and I fully believe I could have been battling with the guys for the podium today. That’s my goal for Assen, keep consistent, keep working hard and keep having fun.”

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