Lowes completes successful test in sizzling Spanish heat
Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider Sam Lowes has completed a productive one-day test in scorching hot conditions at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto
Two days after celebrating his 35th birthday, it was back to work for Lowes on a busy day of testing on board his Ducati Panigale V4R machine ahead of the final three WorldSBK rounds in 2025
Lowes is back in race action in Spain next weekend when round 10 of 12 takes place at the MotorLand Aragon track
/// SAM LOWES: 1:38.686, 75 LAPS
A valuable day of testing for Lowes in advance of next month’s season finale in Jerez took place in demanding conditions, with ambient temperatures soaring to a sweltering 36 degrees.
Track temperature at the 4.42km Jerez track peaked at 58 degrees but Lowes completed 75 laps with the main area of work focused on improving front-end feel under braking.
Clear progress was made throughout the day and Lowes completed the test with an impressive time of 1.38.686, which is a personal best time for the Briton on board a WorldSBK machine at Jerez.
That time was only bettered by current World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, who was one of a handful of regular WorldSBK regulars to join Lowes on track.
“I enjoyed riding and it was a very positive test”
“It was a very good day in Jerez in what were extremely hot conditions. It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden when it has been so hot, but it was the perfect opportunity for me to work on some of the weaker points of my riding in those types of conditions. We spent the whole day on race tyres, and I was able to work a lot on improving in the braking phase. We made some very good steps in that area and in the morning when it was a little bit cooler, I was able to put in my first ever lap in the 1.38s in Jerez, so I feel my pace was good all day. I enjoyed riding and we got through a lot of work, so it proved to be a very positive test.”