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Lowes edges Redding in wet WorldSBK Warm-Up at Aragon

Sunday, 23 May 2021 07:25 GMT

    • The weather took a turn for the worst this morning…

    The weather had a nasty surprise on Sunday morning as the 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock woke up to rain – and lots of it. Raining throughout the morning, the MotorLand Aragon circuit saw the first wet session of the year for the 15 minutes morning Warm-Up, and also the first wet track time for the majority of the riders in 2021. Ending on top was Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), as he goes into the day with good confidence in the wet. 

    Lowes on fine form throughout the Warm-Up session, constantly improving in the evolving track conditions, whilst Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) followed him home for second place overall. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was also right in contention with third place going to the Ulsterman. Making it four British riders inside the top four was Leon Haslam (Team HRC), with Honda showing good potential in the damp conditions. Completing the top five was Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), with the Dutchman having his best session of the weekend so far. 

    Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) was a strong sixth and top Independent rider and also top rookie, whilst it was Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who was seventh, over a second back of the top time. Eighth went to Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who was top Yamaha, ahead of rookie Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) and Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who completed the top ten. Big names outside the top ten included Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) in 11th and Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) in 13th, both in the podium fight towards the end of Race 1 on Saturday. 

    Top six after Warm-Up in WorldSBK; full results here!

    1.     Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 2’02.530
    2.     Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.119s
    3.     Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.122s
    4.     Leon Haslam (Team HRC) +0.314
    5.     Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.334
    6.     Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) +0.942

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