Suzuki’s Lowes Tops Jerez World Superbike Testing, Day 2

Jerez World Superbike Testing, Day 2

Due to heavy rains on Monday at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, the track was still damp before a few World Superbike teams ventured out Tuesday for the second day of testing.

Initially, only two riders braved the wet conditions –  World Supersport’s Kenan Sofuoglu on the San Carlo Puccetti Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja and Barni Racing Team Ducati Leandro “Tati” Mercardo.

But the other riders soon joined when the tarmac dried, and everyone quickly got up to speed.

Leading the test was Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes, who topped the time sheets with a 1:40.730, which was four-tenths of a second quicker than all Monday times.

The GSX-R1000 pilot was a mere 0.123 of a second ahead of Red Devils Roma Aprilia’s Leon Haslam, and 0.135 of a second ahead of the 2013 World Superbike Champion, Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes.

World Superbike says the former Pata Honda rider Haslam, who was the second most active on the track thanks to 76 laps completed, has already proved to be very competitive in what was his only second day aboard the new RSV4 RR.

Newly-signed Kawasaki Racing Team pilot Jonathan Rea put in a best lap of 1:41.127 to take the fourth quickest time of the day. The former Pata Honda rider finished just ahead of Red Devils Roma Aprilia’s Michel Fabrizio and the reigning World SBK Champion Sylvain Guintoli on the Pata Honda World Superbike CBR1000RR SP Fireblade.

Despite an impressive total of 81 laps, 2014 WSS Champion and World Superbike rookie Michael van der Mark did not manage to break the 1min 42secs barrier.

The riders will return to Jerez Wednesday for the third day of testing.

2014 Jerez World Superbike Testing Results Day 2 (unofficial):

1- Alex Lowes 1’40.730

2- Tom Sykes 1’40.853

3- Leon Haslam 1’40.865

4- Jonathan Rea 1’41.127

5- Michel Fabrizio 1’41.384

6- Sylvain Guintoli 1’41.639

7- Michael van der Mark 1’42.651

8- Randy De Puniet 1’42.938

9- Kenan Sofuoglu (WSS) 1’43.730

10- Raffaele De Rosa (STK) 1’44.920

11- Luca Salvadori (STK) 1’45.985