WSBK – WSBK 2018: Alex Lowes and Yamaha set off for a ride – Used YAMAHA

Posted on by admin

WSBK 2018: Alex Lowes and Yamaha go for a ride

WSBK - WSBK 2018: Alex Lowes and Yamaha leave for a ride - Used YAMAHA

Victorious at the Suzuka 8H (2016 and 2017!), The duo Yamaha and Alex Lowes are giving themselves an extra year to go and tease the Kawasaki and the Ducati in World Superbike. The English driver will team up with Michael van der Mark again in 2018…

Hired to launch the new R1 in World Superbike, Alex Lowes has just signed for a third season. The objective remains the same: to join the factory Kawasaki and Ducati !

After spending his first two years in WSBK whipping the good but old GSX-R1000 (11th in 2014, 10th in 2015), the British No.22 hoped to join his compatriots Sykes, Rea, Davies and Haslam at the forefront by riding the very recent YZF-R1…

Instead, Alex ran into various tuning issues, finished in the gravel pit several times, had an injured ride and even forfeited "his" home race. In the end, the twin of Sam (official Aprilia rider this season in MotoGP) finished the 2016 season in a disappointing 12th place.

WSBK - WSBK 2018: Alex Lowes and Yamaha set off for a ride - Used YAMAHA

“We had big expectations and I put too much pressure on myself”, a few days before the opening of the 2017 season. “But I’m a winner, I want to win races and I can’t be satisfied with 6, 7 or 8th. Maybe that’s a fault with me, but I’m convinced it’s an asset when the bike is able to fight in front. I have to control that this year. ".

Put under pressure by the podium obtained by his team-mate "Guinters" at the end of last season in Qatar – yes, yes, the R1 is working well! -, Lowes has indeed gained consistency in 2017: in 15 races contested to date, the 2013 British Superbike champion has finished 10 times in the Top 6 !

WSBK - WSBK 2018: Alex Lowes and Yamaha leave for a ride - Used YAMAHA

"It has been a pretty solid start to the year", analyzed the Yamaha rider during the – too – long summer break, "we managed to get on two podiums, but we struggled a bit on the last event at Laguna Seca".

Alex Lowes, on the other hand, shone in the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance event, to which he was invited along with his new fiance and the Japanese pilot Katsuyuki Nakasuga. This second victory in a row for Alex (the third for Yam) undoubtedly weighed in the renewal of the contract…

WSBK - WSBK 2018: Alex Lowes and Yamaha set off for a ride - Used YAMAHA

"Not only did the team emerge victorious from the race, but Lowes also shattered the track record by more than a second by slamming a 2 ‘06.912, proof of his sheer speed coupled with incredible consistency," said his employer, delighted to keep him in its ranks.

Alex’s counter currently shows 148 points: he is already beating last season’s total by 17 points, and is 41 points behind the fourth place in the championship occupied by Marco Melandri. The Top 3 formed by Rea, Sykes and Davies – always them! – is however out of reach…

Before thinking about the 2018 season, which he will compete again at Yamaha alongside "Magic Michael", Alex Lowes is keen to conclude this season with new podiums and great races: as flamboyant as the first round at home, at Donington Park? WSBK fans ask for this, and so is he !

WSBK - WSBK 2018: Alex Lowes and Yamaha leave for a ride - Used YAMAHA

“The race was weird,” the Englishman recalled this summer, “I got stuck in the first corner and ended up last. Passing so many guys and grabbing the podium on the last lap was not only an exciting race, but it meant a lot to me. This is my highlight of the season so far, but I hope there is a lot more to come! "

Second of the very eventful first round of Misano last June, Alex has never climbed the top step of the podium in World Superbike … (Germany) where the next WorldSBK event will take place, Alex will have to spit in the gloves to pick up Jonathan, Tom and Chaz.

But what will happen during the last four meetings of, scheduled in Portimao (Portugal), Magny-Cours (France!), Jerez (Spain) then Losail (Qatar)? To find out, there is only one solution: stay connected !

WSBK - WSBK 2018: Alex Lowes and Yamaha leave for a ride - Used YAMAHA

Statements:

Alex Lowes, Yamaha # 22:
“I’m really happy to continue with Yamaha and the Pata team in 2018. I feel like I’m part of the Yamaha family and this year I think I’ve taken a step forward from last season. I want to continue to improve myself and get to where Yamaha, the R1 and I need to be, which is to fight at the forefront in WorldSBK: this is my goal, my mission. I want to thank Yamaha Motor Europe and all the team for the faith they have in me, and I can’t wait to reward them with results! "

Andrea Dosoli, Speed ​​Manager at Yamaha Motor Europe:
"We are delighted to keep our two riders for next season. The project is going in the right direction and, step by step, we are closing the gap on the best. Having the same talented riders is fundamental for further development. , because continuity is a key factor in motorsports. So we are really happy that Alex has agreed to extend the contract for another year. We have embarked on this medium / long term project together, and the recent result at the Suzuka 8H is another positive step towards the maturity aimed for in 2018. Michael improves his understanding of the R1 and the team as the races go on. He becomes a fundamental member of the Yamaha family and the 2018 season him will offer the opportunity to constantly express his great talent. Now let’s focus on the final races of the 2017 season because we still have a lot of work to do! "

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *