Sam and Alex Lowes, Oulton Park, April 19-21

Riders: Sam and Alex Lowes, Bikes: Aprilia RS125, Championship: Aprilia Superteens

Twelve-year-old identical twins Sam and Alex Lowes produced a mixed bag of results at Oulton Park over the Easter weekend the highlight of which was a rostrum finish for Sam in the Aprilia Superteen championship his first at this high level of competition.

The twins competed in the Bemsee club meeting on Saturday as a warm-up for the Superteen races on Monday and were delighted to secure an excellent set of results with Sam taking a brace of second places and Alex a fifth and a third.

The weather played its part in Monday’s Superteen Championship races with Sam amazingly unaffected by the hailstorm that raged throughout qualifying. He put in some ultra-fast laps to clinch a front row start to the two races but brother Alex was not so lucky.

His progress was hampered by a misted visor forcing him to ease off the throttle with his vision impaired. He had to be content with a fifth row start which would leave him a lot of ground to make up to get on terms with the race leaders.

The tarmac was still wet from the earlier rain as the riders took their places on the grid but Sam took advantage of his front row start to head off and slot into third place until he was relegated back to fifth as two more experienced riders went past on the brakes.

Sam stayed with the leading group and nipped back through at the new chicane to reclaim his third place position and take the chequered flag for his very first podium finish.

Alex meanwhile was battling his way through the field picking off the opposition with determination to end his opening campaign in a fine eighth place.

Race two saw the rain return as the riders waited in the collection area and this time it was Alex who completed the race ahead of his brother in ninth position. Sam ended his second outing with a tenth place after struggling throughout with handling problems. On his return to the paddock he found out why – the front tyre was almost deflated and the young rider had done well to steer the RS125cc Aprilia safely home.

When the points table was updated following the two Oulton Park races both Sam and Alex are nicely positioned in the top ten; Alex at eighth with 32 points and Sam ninth on 31. The boys hope to increase their position in the next round, which is scheduled for their local circuit, Cadwell Park, on May 11.