‘Sore, gutted’ Lowes: ‘Rea made a big error of judgement’

Alex Lowes says Jonathan Rea made a ‘big error of judgement’ in his bungled attempts to overtake for third position on the final corner of🌟 the first World Superbike Championship race at Jerez after it left the Yamaha rider nursing a shoulder injury.

The pair were engaged in an absorbing battle for the final podium spot during the 𝕴second-half of the encounter, one Lowes looked to have sewn up with a decisive move three🀅 laps from the end only to have Rea come back at him at the notorious last corner ‘Jorge Lorenzo’ left-hander.

‘Sore, gutted’ Lowes: ‘Rea made a big error of judgement’

Alex Lowes says Jonathan Rea made a ‘big error of judgement’ in his bungled attempts to overtake for third position on the fina🍬l corner of the first World Superbike Championship race at Jerez aღfter it left the Yamaha rider nursing a shoulder injury.

The pair were engaged in an absorbing battle for the final podium spot during the second-half of the encounter, one Lowes looked to have sewn up with a decisive move three laps from the end only to have Rea ꧋come back at him at the notorious last corner ‘Jorge Lorenzo’ left-hander.

As Rea lunged for the inside, the pair made contact – as many have in MotoGP done at the same spot over the years – wit🥂h Lowes skittling down in an incident that alaღrmingly also dragged his glove from his left hand.

Rea went on to finish third, a position that looked final until it emerged Race Direction had reconvened hours later to determine he should slip to fourth – behind Lowes’ 🐭Yamaha counterpart Marco Melandri – and be demoted to the back of the grid for the Superpole Race so Lowes could start on the front row.

Though a ‘gutted’ Lowes, who remounted but only to be classified 16th, suggests a punishment is indeed justifi🦩ed in the circumstances, he remains unsatisfied by the ultimate outcome.

“Obviously, I’m gutted with the eventual outcome of the race. I was struggling 🐻with the bike a little bit in the race, which meant I wasn’t able to stay with Michael, but I felt I could be consistent with the pace I had. It was a good battle with Johnny; I f♉elt I was a bit stronger than him and with three laps to go managed to get in front.

“I put in a good, solid, clean last lap a🦄nd I felt like I had the beating of Johnny but then he made a big error of judgement in the final corner and took me straight off the bike.

“It was a decent hit and I’m pretty sore right now. He’s been penalised for the move, but that doesn’t chang🌳e the fact that I missed out on the podium and 16 really important points, which is a shame.

“Anyway, there are a few things we can improve on the bike; my pace has been strong all weekend and, luckily, we have two races tomorrow in which to try and make up for today’s loss. A disappointing result, but there are also plenty of positives we can take away♍ from today.”

Lowes was checked over by Clinica Mobile for a shoulder injury and contusions to his left wrist, mea𒈔ning h𓃲e will need to undergo a medical check to be passed fit to race on Sunday. Yamaha says he is expected to able to take up his position.

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