Jerez test, good start for Sam Lowes: “I’m adapting to the SBK”

One of this year’s most interesting Superbike ‘newbies’ is undoubtedly Sam Lowes. The Brit returns to the production-derived series more than ten years on from his 2013 Supersport title win, having since competed in Moto2. This season Sam will be in action in the reigning class with the Ducati Panigale V4 R of team MarcVDS, which also makes its category debut.

During the two-day test at Jerez, the English rider worked to get to grips with a bike very different to the Moto2 he’s been used to riding. Immediately at ease, Sam rounded out the second and final day of testing inside the top ten, as the third fastest Ducati rider (after those of Nicolò Bulega and Andrea Iannone). He focused almost entirely on long runs, completing 91 laps of the track in all.

Lowes: “Pleased with the progress, but I still have a margin”

“I’m really pleased with the way the tests have finished”, explains Sam, clearly happy with the progress made. “I took a big step forward from the first to the second day, building confidence with the Ducati Panigale V4 R. The team worked hard, really helping me to identify the areas where I still have real room to improve, like the braking phase and in corner entry, so different to what’s required in Moto2”.

“We tried some different setups and found one that I can use to my advantage. As for the tyres, I tried the softer Pirelli spec, but only made one time attack, so I think I can go faster”, continues Lowes, as he looks ahead to the next test. “In a few days, we’ll be back out for another test, at Portimao; it will be important to understand how the bike behaves at a totally different track”.