Lowes on top as Voltcom Crescent Suzuki complete winter testing in Jerez
The Briton fastest on dry conditions at the Andalusian track.
Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes left the Circuito de Jerez in Spain yesterday top of the combined times after four days testing in preparation for the 2015 FIM Superbike World Championship.
The impressive pace shown by Lowes during Tuesday’s dry-running was enough to retain the fastest time from his closest rival, Kawasaki’s newly-mounted Jonathan Rea. With heavy rain marring the majority of the team’s final day, Lowes chose not to test in the wet conditions, completing just three laps on his Yoshimura-powered GSX-R.
Championship rookie, Randy de Puniet, concludes his first test aboard the Suzuki GSX-R1000 in fifth position, having gained confidence quickly with both his new team and machine. Braving the Spanish rain for 22 laps yesterday, the Frenchman improved his wet-running pace from Monday afternoon, to enter the winter break confident with the progression made throughout the week.
Voltcom Crescent Suzuki will now return to its UK headquarters to continue the winter preparations ahead of the opening pre-season test at Portugal’s Portimao Circuit, scheduled for 21st January 2015.
Alex Lowes: “It’s been a good week, I’m happy to finish the year feeling confident and with a renewed optimism about the 2015 bike. It’s slightly frustrating that we didn’t get more of an opportunity to test everything we had planned but I’m happy with the overall performance. I’m feeling positive and stress-free heading into the winter which is always important. Thanks to the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team for this year, we will try to improve next year and come back strong in pre-season testing in January.”
Randy de Puniet: “It has been a very good test for us. Everything was new for me but the adaptation was quick, the team are very professional and so it was very easy for me to work and to understand the bike. I’m very satisfied because we ran in the dry and the wet and in both conditions we were quick so I’m confident. It’s good to finish the year on a positive note and to be ready for next year.
“I have many things to learn over the winter with the new riding style and I will watch videos of the Superbike races to try to understand many things, but I’m quite confident. I can leave here in a good place, concentrate on my training and be fit for the first race.”
