Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider Sam Lowes was a highly promising fourth in FP2 and ninth overall as he worked on tyre performance over race distance on Friday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

• After the recent Pirelli test at this track, where a rear tyre evolution was introduced, Friday was spent working on the durability of the tyres.
• Lowes was able to post a competitive 15-lap run in FP2, and the Briton has identified a number of set-up modifications that can be made to improve tyre endurance.
• Having fitted Pirelli’s SCX rear tyre in the final stages of FP1, the Briton was ninth. He was even more competitive in FP2, when he was fourth, 0.794s back of pace setter Nicolo Bulega. Sam placed ninth in the combined standings.

/// SAM LOWES, 9^th – 1:41.701

“Finishing fourth in the afternoon session is positive for me”

“I’m happy with how this first day has gone. Finishing fourth in the afternoon session when the temperature was increasing is positive for me. We still need to work on a few things, but the team did a great job with the bike and we were able to try a few different settings. We will have a close look at the data tonight and make sure we put together the best package for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to qualifying and race one tomorrow because I’ve no doubt we have the potential to perform well in both.”