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First Kawasaki Superpole ‘Win’ For Lowes
KRT riders Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani had difficult and increasingly wet track conditions to face during Race One at Magny-Cours but Lowes had started the day with his first Tissot Superpole qualifying success since he joined Kawasaki and KRT.
After a dry opening day at Magny-Cours on Friday 6 September Saturday’s Superpole qualifying session would be held in fully wet conditions at the 4.411km long ‘Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.’ Despite a treacherously slippery track surface Lowes would take his first ever pole ‘win’ for Kawasaki and the second Superpole trophy of his career. Alex was a significant 0.772 seconds up on the next fastest rider.
Bassani used his wet weather skills to go seventh in Superpole, earning himself a positive third row start.
In the 21-lap opening race of the French weekend the action started with both wet and dry conditions visible on the track surface. In the early laps the rains returned, heavily enough for many riders to come in for a tyre change.
Lowes was one of those who pitted for rain tyres and in doing so he was subsequently fighting for the race win with eventual victor, Michael van Der Mark. On lap 14 he was to suffer an unlucky fall entering T13 while leading, losing the front as he tipped his bike into the right handed corner on a slightly wider line than usual. Alex restarted and was running sixth at a strong pace.
Unfortunately for Lowes one major piece of his bike’s bodywork had been damaged in the fall and came partially loose from its mountings - causing the race officials to signal Lowes to make an immediate stop at the trackside.
Bassani was also unlucky to get entangled in a lap one incident at the final chicane when two riders in front of him crashed. He had to avoid action and ran off track onto the grass, losing many positions.
Axel gradually worked his way forward after his own early pit stop for wet tyres resulted in a delay in fitting full wet tyre options. He was also to crash in the heavy rains, losing some places before he remounted to finish 11th.
The biggest indication of how treacherous the track surface was in the wettest parts of the opening race was that only 12 riders were classified as finishers from a field of 22 starters.
With Race One now complete attention turns to the two WorldSBK races on Sunday 8 September. A subtly new schedule for Magny Cours, compared to the regular one at European races, sees the ten-lap Superpole race taking place at 11.00 on Sunday as usual, but the 21-lap Race Two is scheduled for a 15.30 start.
Alex Lowes, stated: “Superpole was conducted in difficult conditions with a lot of water on the track and more aquaplaning as the session went on. I did a reasonably good lap and thought to myself that I could not go much faster without risking too much. The bike was working well and we know that in wet conditions the Kawasaki is a really solid package and gives me good grip. I am happy with my first pole position with Kawasaki. Before the race we were looking at all the different weather forecasts and we felt like it would dry up. We went with a dry machine setting and slick tyres. I felt I was on the right tyre choice. When it started to rain, it rained quite a lot. I had the speed to win but I made a mistake. I was a little bit wider than the previous laps. The positive point was that I was one of the fastest guys even after the crash but the bike was damaged and we got the black and orange flag to stop. Otherwise, I felt I could have been fourth or fifth. The first point I want to make is to say sorry to the Kawasaki and KRT guys, and especially my crew for the work they will have to do on the bike tonight. We have been fast in all conditions but it wasn’t meant to be today. We will take the positive points and try again tomorrow.”
Axel Bassani, stated: “Superpole was not bad but the feeling was not really good with the rear tyre. From the first lap of the race I lost a lot of time because of a crash right in front of me, Jonathan Rea and Nicolo Bulega. I think I lost ten positions! I came back to the box because it started to rain and unfortunately we did not work correctly this time on the tyre change and I think we lost 30 precious seconds or so in the pits. I went back out on track and with rain tires in the wet conditions I started to recover a lot of positions. But, then I crashed and lost another 50 seconds or so. When I got back on track my pace was really good compared to the leading riders.”
