World Superbike: Alex Lowes To Stay With Suzuki
Cycle News Staff | September 25, 2014
World Superbike racer Alex Lowes has inked deal to stay with the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team for the 2015 season, the young Brit just two rounds from completing his rookie season in the series with the team.
Lowes, whose identical twin brother Sam races in the Moto2 class, has two podium finishes thus far in 2014 and is currently 11th in the championship with two rounds and four races left to go.
“My first year with Voltcom Crescent Suzuki in the World Championship hasn’t always been easy but overall it’s been great,” Lowes said in a team release. “You learn a lot about yourself and the team when things don’t quite go right and now at this stage of the year we know exactly where we need to improve, both on and off track. I’m really enjoying my riding again after some injuries early in the year and looking forward to continuing my improvement and being more consistent in 2015.
“The World Superbike Championship is a fantastic series to race in, it’s been great to race at so many new tracks but it has also meant I’ve had a lot to learn! My second year will allow me the opportunity to continue my development with the benefit of a year’s experience, so I’m really looking forward to the next stage in my career. I want to say a huge thank you to the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team and all the sponsors and partners for their continued faith in me, bringing me up from BSB Champion to the world level and continuing that support into my second year as a World Championship racer. I’m confident we can challenge at the front with the Suzuki GSX-R next year and will be aiming, as ever, to achieve my very best for all involved.”
Team manager Paul Denning is happy to have Lowes back in the fold for next year.
“There have been a lot of challenges for Alex this year; new championship, new team, new bike, new tracks, and learning the electronic control strategies used at world level,” Denning said. “It’s not easy to jump straight in from a domestic series and be competitive, but Alex has clearly shown his raw speed, determination and understanding of what’s needed to run with the fastest riders.
“Alex’s most important attribute in terms of our decision to extend the contract is simple – he is blindingly fast. The second year together will allow us to make better decisions, improve consistency and to understand what’s needed circuit-to-circuit to achieve the best performance. In some cases, that might mean settling for a result that is below our target but is the best that can be achieved on the day; and that approach will come with time and experience. However, when the opportunity is there; we need a rider who can win – and Alex fits that bill perfectly.”
