Lowes leads on day one in Phillip Island testing

On the first day of the official pre-season test sessions at Phillip island Alex Lowes took his Voltcom Crescent Suzuki to best time, setting a 1’31.332 that was only 0.3 seconds from the lap record. After some issues with his machine not running properly in the morning session, Lowes and his team turned it around in the afternoon session, taking the best lap time right at the end.

Lowes, in his second year in WSB and his second terms with Suzuki, said of his day one prowess using his 2014 electronics, “I did not pull it out of the bag too much as we were pretty consistent in the afternoon session. We were second for a bit and then third. This morning’s session was basically a write off and the bike didn’t run all session. The fast lap time means absolutely nothing and I cannot believe I was quickest after the morning. I was quite calm and working well. We have the same electronics as we finished Qatar with which means that although we have not improved it, we have also not gone backwards. In theory it should be a bit better than it was this time last year because we are a bit more experienced with it. We should not be any further behind but we have a lot of work to do if we want to be competitive against the Kawasakis and stuff on Sunday. I am riding alright, and we should be alright.”

Jonathan Rea (KRT) had been fastest for most of the day, thanks to a time set in the morning session, but after a late red flag, and with only ten minutes to go, Lowes and many others made a last dash and the former BSB champion took his Suzuki 0.331 seconds ahead of Rea.

On a good day for the British riders Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team Red Devils) piled in with a third best lap time, while Tom Sykes (KRT) placed fourth.

Jordi Torres, Haslam’s rookie WSB team-mate, started to get to grips with the Aprilia and placed fifth, ahead of heavy faller Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike) who crashed in the afternoon session, and is undergoing tests in hospital to see if he can test again tomorrow.

Chaz Davies placed his works Panigale into seventh spot, while Randy De Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) was fast to start but fell heavily after a highside, and did not ride in the afternoon session. X-rays showed he had not suffered any fractures.

Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda) continued his fast learning process in his first Superbike year by going ninth quickest, while Nico Terol (Althea Racing) proved the privateer Ducatis can already mix it with the works bikes by completing the top ten.

A battered and bruised Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda) battled against his sore back from a big crash he suffered in recent tests at Jerez to finish 13^th fastest on day one at PI, one place behind lone MV Agusta Reparto Corse rider Leon Camier.

In all 25 riders set times on the first of the two days of testing, which was held in windy but warm and dry conditions.