Lowes back in the hunt after Aragon controversies

At the end of a volatile and endlessly dramatic Supersport race at MotorLand Aragon last weekend the Supersport World Championship contest re-ignited at the top of the table. Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini) crossed the line first in the delayed race but was penalised mid-race and eventually demoted to fifth, meaning that Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda) took his second win of the year.

The circumstances of the end of the race, with Sofuoglu penalized but not taking his penalty, left Lowes with a decision to make and it subsequently proved to be the right one. To not try to pass the double champion as he did not need to. "It was difficult in the end because I knew Kenan had a penalty and I was actually in first position but I rode my race and it was good," said Lowes.

Sam, still only 21, was eager to race in Aragon from the get-go, especially to try and put the memories of terrible Misano round - which his bike issues and then a fall ensured he would score no points - behind him. "Already yesterday I knew I had a good race pace and just needed to get a good start from fifth and then hang in there. I just put my head down and got into my rhythm. I took my time because I knew it was going to be a long race."

For Lowes, who was so desperately down after Misano, Motorland offered him more than just the prospect of making up more championship ground to Sofuoglu, and with plenty of races left in the 2012 season still. "We're back in second overall, and I'm looking forward to fighting for more victories and the championship. We've got Brno next which I like a lot and Silverstone which is my second home race, so I'm really looking forward to that."

At present Sofuoglu is 16 points ahead of Lowes with six rounds left, while Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) and Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step) are 33 and 34 points respectively behind Sofuoglu.