Alex Lowes Doubles In British Superbike Series
Cycle News Staff | September 8, 2013
Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes won his fourth straight British Superbike race today with his two race wins this weekend at Donington Park. Lowes is now just six points behind defending series champion Shane Byrne going into the series’ Showdown.
Lowes lost out to BMW-mounted James Westmoreland in qualifying, but won both races over Byrne, the Kawasaki rider leading the series standings going into the Showdown. Lowes has now won six races thus far after nine rounds.
“I got a good start and that was good,” Lowes said. “I thought the guys must have been messing my pit board up as each lap it just said +0! I enjoyed the race, I didn’t know it was Shakey [Byrne] behind me, but I obviously knew someone was there; the bike was working well, though. I don’t think I have ever pushed as hard as I did at the end of those races to take the double. I wanted wins this weekend as the points make it close and I am really excited about the Showdown. It is so close so it should be really good fun at Assen.”
For Byrne, second in both races was enough to keep him atop the championship.
“Full credit to the team and K-tech for the changes they made to the suspension prior to the races as they really paid dividends and I was able to lap quicker in the races than I had done all weekend,” Byrne said. “I was planning my move on Alex on the last lap, but I found a neutral instead of fourth gear on the exit of Coppice so I couldn’t try the inside going into the Esses. No excuses, though, Alex rode an incredible race. The result got us back in the window for the second race and I knew what I needed to do although it was again a tough battle. I did everything I could to get the win and although I’m never happy to finish second, this weekend’s second places were as good as a win. Going into the Showdown, I have just a six-point lead, but we’ll keep doing what we’re doing and treat each weekend the same.”
Yamaha’s James Ellison finished third in the first race with Kawasaki-mounted Tommy Bridewell taking the final podium spot in race two.
