Image: Rusty Colvin.

Voltcom Crescent Suzuki rookie Alex Lowes is fastest following Friday’s proceedings at the Phillip Island round of the FIM Superbike World Championship.

Lowes put his Suzuki at the top of the timesheets in today’s second 45-minute practice session – first practice was practically a non-affair due to inclement weather – and then stayed there despite the usually flurry of fast laps at the end of proceedings.

It was a sensational ‘official’ WSBK debut for current British champion Lowes, but no huge surprise after he crafted together a pre-season that was full of speed and vigour.

Lowes’ best lap was 1m31.100, only a fraction in front of Aprilia’s Marco Melandri with a 1m31.137, and then followed by Ducati’s Davide Guigliano and Kawasaki’s world champion Tom Sykes – four manufacturers sharing the spoils.

Australian pair Glenn Allerton (BMW) and Matt Walters (Kawasaki) – both 11th hour replacements for injured internationals – were 15th and 22nd respectively on their EVO-spec machines.

Allerton was impressive, finishing right behind the fastest EVO riders; Ducati’s Niccolo Canepa and Kawasaki pair David Salom and Fabien Foret.

There were two massive highside crashes in the session, with Sykes’ teammate Loris Baz coming unstuck at Turn 12, and minutes later Chaz Davies was catapulted over his factory Ducati at Turn Nine. Both riders were unhurt.

Jonathan Rea (Honda) was fifth fastest from Eugene Laverty (Suzuki).

The third practice session will be held at 9:45am tomorrow, with the fastest 20 times across the three practice sessions determining the riders who will battle for final grid positions in Superpole at 3:00pm.

2014 eni Superbike World Championship
Round one – Phillip Island, VIC

Superbike FP2 results:
1. Alex Lowes 1m31.100
2. Marco Melandri 1m31.137
3. Davide Giugliano 1m31.205
4. Tom Sykes 1m31.395
5. Jonathan Rea 1m31.436
6. Eugene Laverty 1m31.448
7. Leon Haslam 1m31.533
8. Loris Baz 1m31.637
9. Chaz Davies 1m31.757
10. Sylvain Guintoli 1m31.759
15. Glenn Allerton (AUS) 1m33.118 (EVO)
22. Matt Walters (AUS) 1m35.810 (EVO)

Click here for detailed results