The opening WorldSBK Championship race at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli today saw Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider Sam Lowes fighting comfortably inside the top 10 in sweltering early summer heat.

• Starting eighth on the grid after missing a front row by only 0.2s in Superpole this morning, Lowes retained that position in a frantic opening few laps and was brilliantly resisting persistent pressure from Axel Bassani and Michael van der Mark moving into the second half of the 21-lap encounter.
• With track temperatures reaching a scorching hot 44 degrees, front tyre endurance was always going to be a decisive factor, and Lowes was maintaining a consistent pace in eighth spot moving into the final stages of Race 1.
• Thirteen laps had been completed when Lowes unfortunately lost the front of his Ducati Panigale V4 R in turn 14 and while the Briton remounted he retired shortly afterwards.

/// SAM LOWES: DNF

 “Today’s experience will help us in the future”

 “It’s a bit frustrating to end Race 1 with a DNF because I had good pace and was managing the situation well and not too far away from the top six. But the conditions were incredibly hot, and I was struggling a little with the front tyre grip. I’ve never used the Pirelli rubber in such heat and with the track temperature not far away from 50 degrees it wasn’t an easy lesson to learn. I’m sorry to my crew because we were well on course for a solid top 10 and some good points, but the experience gained today can only help us in the future in the same situation. We’ll be better prepared if the conditions are as hot again tomorrow and hopefully I can come away with two strong finishes.”