Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) began his 2017 season in supreme style on Saturday in the Yamaha Finance Australian Round, and he will be the first rider to start from pole position under the new grid rules for 2017.

The British rider has been working relentlessly over the winter on his YZR-R1 machine, and completed three race simulations in the Official Two Day Phillip Island test alone. Prepared to take on the battles that await him, the 26 year old was able to battle for a podium position in race one and narrowly missed out on the taste of Prosecco by 0.032s.

Lowes explains his race: “I’ve been working really hard, especially in Phillip Island. I’ve done three race simulations here and it really showed. The last ten laps of the race I think I was really strong, the team have done a great job and it was fantastic to be racing those guys in the front, I really enjoyed racing with them and we’ll see what we can do tomorrow. I think all the guys can improve and every race is different, but tomorrow we’ll try and make some small adjustments to the bike. Hopefully we can get on the podium but if not we will do the same as today, get a good finish and move onto Thailand.”

This season sees the introduction of the reversed grid rules, which will see the rider in fourth position start from pole on Sunday, whilst the winner starts from ninth. Lowes makes his debut from the front of the grid at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday at 15.00 LT (+11 GMT).