Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team’s Alex Lowes was disappointed to miss out on the action at Donington Park after the Brit crashed in Race 2 in Sepang and broke his collarbone. Lowes, who was initially given the all clear to take part after being reviewed after FP1 on Friday, was then sadly declared unfit to race on Saturday after FP3.

“It is quite an easy decision because I’m just not fit enough to do 23 laps," lamented Lowes. "So there is no point riding around for two or three laps and then pulling in. The bike felt really good but I just wasn’t fit enough. I realised this morning that it was impossible so that’s it. You wouldn’t start the race with half a tank of fuel.”

“I should be ok by Misano, but you never know." Round 8 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is from 17th to 19th June. "I should be alright, I’ve got a couple of weeks to get fit. I thought I was going to be ok for this weekend. I don’t know if it is the nature of the track which hasn’t helped us. There is quite a lot of trauma in the shoulder so let’s see what happens at Misano. I expect to be fine there. But for this weekend I don’t think I could even do six laps, never mind 23.”

The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team rider will be pushing to be able to ride in Round 8, along with injured teammate Sylvain Guintoli, who is always expected to be back on track at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in June.