After qualifying top Independent Team rider in a sensational fourth place, Sam Lowes and the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team experienced an eventful Race 1 at the Donington Park WorldSBK round today.

• Starting inside the top five for the third round in five this season after another stunning performance in a record-breaking Superpole, Lowes was immediately battling in the lead group in the 23-lap encounter.
• Hopes of a strong finish though were unfortunately ended on lap seven at turn four when contact from another rider pushed Lowes off track.
• The incident cost the Briton over 30 seconds and he dropped to the back of the field, but once back in the action a determined Lowes produced lap times comparable to those of his rivals fighting for the podium as he took the chequered flag in 19^th.

/// SAM LOWES: 19^th

“In the last laps I was setting a competitive pace”

“Superpole this morning was fantastic and to equal my best grid position in WorldSBK was great in front of the British crowd. I struggled to find my rhythm in the early part of the race and then unfortunately the contact made me run off track and I lost a lot of time. It’s a pity because I was hoping to finish in the top 10 and feel that was achievable but the contact was purely a racing incident and it happens. I was able to continue and get some experience over a full race distance and in the last few laps I felt I was setting a competitive pace and was learning a lot. I take some confidence in how I was managing the grip and now we will look tonight to see where we can improve and be back stronger tomorrow.”