Elf Marc VDS Racing Team star Sam Lowes shrugged off a huge high-side on the first day of Free Practice at Motorland Aragon, with the British rider setting the 8^th fastest time of the day.

• While Friday was Sam’s first official World Superbike session held on the 5.08km Motorland Aragon Circuit in Spain, the 34-year old had previous experience at the track aboard Ducati’s Panigale V4R machine, as he conducted a one-day test session here earlier this month.
• Sam started the day well as he posted the 12^th fastest time over two separate runs in FP1, when he made some changes to the bike’s setting to get more comfortable.
• He then had a huge high-side through Turn 17 midway through FP2 when he just went off the racing line. But the Briton was able to rejoin soon after, when he heroically set the 8^th fastest time of the session, and 8^th overall on Friday.

/// SAM LOWES, 8^th – 1’49.546

“I managed to get back out and we were able to improve”

“Thankfully I’m OK! As we know the new asphalt is really positive but it can be tricky when you go off line, where it’s quite dirty. That’s what happened this afternoon, when I had a crash but I managed to get back out and we were able to improve. There are some positives from today. We need to analyse a few things tonight, including the tyre choice for tomorrow. But we’ve made a step forward from the test and I think we have everything under control. It was a positive first day and we’re looking forward to tomorrow. The team did a fantastic job and let’s keep working. It’s been a solid start!”