Alex Lowes finds set-up improvements during two day Portimao WorldSBK test, 'but we still need to find a couple of tenths before the season'.
KRT rider Alex Lowes leaves last week’s two day WorldSBK test 'happy', but confirms more pace is needed ahead of April’s season opener at MotorLand Aragon.
Lowes finished the Portimao test fourth fastest which included being just one tenth away from the official Superbike lap record, the problem however, Toprak Razgatlioglu, team-mate Jonathan Rea and Ducati’s returning Alvaro Bautista were all considerably underneath the time of 1:40.219s which was set last last October by Razgatlioglu.
During day two the Pata Yamaha rider set a new all-time best of 1:39:616s (unofficial), while Rea was second - +0.235s further back. It means Lowes was seven tenths down on the world champion and just under five behind Rea, which is why the former BSB champion believes the next few tests are key to reducing those margins.
But with that said, Lowes did manage to complete over 160 laps which is important for the British rider after having missed a considerable time with injuries last season.
