WSB: Alex Lowes returns from injury at Jerez Test

Alex Lowes made his return from a shoulder injury at the end of last week for a two-day World Superbike test at Jerez.

The factory Kawasaki rider has been out of action since injuring his shoulder in a small training accident in February – missing KRT’s private test at Portimao as a result – but returned to the track last Friday and Saturday (March 19-20).

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Before heading out onto the circuit, which he shared with Team HRC’s Leon Haslam and Alvaro Bautista, Lowes passed his personal riding and fitness test. The two days gave the 2013 British Superbike champion the chance to ride the all-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR for the first time this year. It also gave him an opportunity to see how he felt physically with his shoulder. 

Across the two days, at a sunny, but windy, Jerez, Lowes completed around 120 laps on the 2021 ZX-10RR. He maintained a good pace on race tyres before going out with the qualifying rear tyre towards the end of day two. 

The new ZX-10RR has an updated engine, chassis and aerodynamics, with the two-day test allowing Lowes to analyse, assess and become more accustomed to the new model.

“I am really happy to be back on the bike for these two afternoons with the team,” Lowes said. “I was not sure how much I would be able to do with my shoulder, but we did a lot of laps – 65 I think on the final day – and I was able to continue the work that we started with the new package in November.

“This was positive because we did not know if we could be on a good enough pace to start working – but we were. We literally picked up where we left off, the pace was good, and we found some positive steps with the bike. Also, with my riding, as I have been focusing in the winter to be smoother on the exit of the corners. It was a really positive test, and we ticked all the boxes we had set out for these two days.”

An official two-day WorldSBK test is scheduled to take place in Barcelona on March 31 and April 1. The first round of the 2021 season will then – as it stands – take place at Aragon on May 21-23.