Yamaha’s Alex Lowes hopes to add to his 2017 podium tally as the World Superbike Championship heads to Jerez for the penultimate round of the season.
Lowes scored a third podium of the year last time out in the second race at Magny–Cours and, alongside team–mate Michael van der Mark in third, ended a six–year wait for another Yamaha double podium.
The Crescent team headed off to Portimao for a test following the French round, and Lowes feels he has made further progress with the YZF–R1 which he hopes will translate into further rostrum success in Spain this weekend.
“Jerez is a track I really enjoy,” said Lowes, who has a best result of seventh at the Spanish circuit.
“We had a very productive test in Portimao and I’m feeling great with the R1. We have made really good progress with the bike throughout the year and it shows in our results.
“The test was another step forward and we found some really positive improvements that allowed me to ride with a lot more confidence.
“It was great to be on the podium with Michael at Magny–Cours and it was just reward for all the effort the team has put in, so I am looking to continue this momentum and finish the season as strong as possible, plus, of course, I will be trying to get back on that podium.”
Team–mate van der Mark – who is just 11 points adrift of the Briton in their battle for fifth in the standings – mirrored Lowes‘ enthusiasm after testing in Portugal, and is keen to see how much progress he has made in adapting to the R1 since first testing at Jerez in the winter.
“After doing a lot of testing this winter in Jerez and this progress we have made with the bike during the season, I cannot wait to see how we will go there,” said the Dutchman.
“It is a track I had a good record at, and at the moment we are in a very strong position after great results in the last three races and a really productive test in Portimao.
“My mission will be to fight as close to the front as possible again and, of course, the podium would be even better.”
