Alex Lowes' Struggle: A Surprising Setback at Phillip Island
In a surprising turn of events, Alex Lowes, the seasoned British rider, admitted to feeling "pretty useless" in a critical sector during the WorldSBK test at Phillip Island. Despite this, Lowes and his Bimota teammate, Axel Bassani, managed to secure top-six positions, setting the stage for an exciting race weekend on February 20-22.
But here's where it gets controversial... Lowes, a three-time winner at Phillip Island, believes he still has a shot at the podium, despite his struggles in sector three. He shares this opinion with Danilo Petrucci of BMW, who was impressed by the Bimota riders' lap times and the speed of the KB998.
"I've had worse tests and still managed to get on the podium," Lowes said. "So, why not this year?" He added that while there are several contenders for the rostrum, a bar-to-bar battle suits his style.
And this is the part most people miss... Lowes' confidence stems from his experience and the knowledge that World Superbike is an incredibly tight competition. He predicts a "dogfight" with around ten riders in contention for the podium. Lowes believes his brother, Sam, might be able to keep up with Bulega, leaving the rest of the pack to engage in a fierce battle, which he welcomes.
So, will Alex Lowes overcome his sector three struggles and secure a podium finish? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: the upcoming race at Phillip Island promises to be an intense and thrilling spectacle.
What do you think? Could Lowes' experience give him an edge, or will his sector three issues prove too much? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss!
