News 23 Feb 2013

Lowes secures World Supersport pole position for Yamaha in Australia

Briton Sam Lowes’ absolute grip on proceedings continued in final qualifying and he will start tomorrow’s 15-lap race as the overwhelming favourite.

Sam Lowes claimed the WSS pole this afternoon at Phillip Island.

Sam Lowes claimed the WSS pole this afternoon at Phillip Island.

In World Supersport at Phillip Island today, Briton Sam Lowes’ absolute grip on proceedings continued in final qualifying and he will start tomorrow’s 15-lap race as the overwhelming favourite on his Russian-backed Yamaha YZF-R6.

Lowes’ best time in qualifying was 1:32.545s, nearly a second ahead of reigning world champion Kenan Sofouglu (Kawasaki, 1:33.404), while Frenchman Fabien Foret (Kawasaki, 1:33.721) gritted his teeth to rocket up the timesheets to complete the front row.

Foret had a massive crash yesterday, which left the 40-year-old badly battered and bruised.

Sofuoglu won the 2012 WSS race at Phillip Island, ahead of Foret and Australia’s Broc Parkes, with Lowes in fifth position.

Meanwhile, Phillip Island rookies Michael Van der Mark (Honda, 1:33.802) and Jack Kennedy (Honda, 1:33.896) are on row two alongside David Salom (Kawasaki, 1:33.965), while Kevin Curtain (Yamaha, 1:34.557) is the leading Australian in 14th, ahead of Josh Hook (Honda, 1:34.944) in 22nd.

Hook and compatriot Mitchell Carr (Triumph, 1:35.23) crashed in final qualifying, with the latter to start from 26th position.

West Wyalong 17-year-old Matt Davies (Honda, 1:35.380) will head off from 30th position in the massive 34-bike field.

The WSS race will be held at 1:30pm tomorrow.

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