Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured a Sunday double rostrum at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, finishing third in both the Tissot Superpole Race and Race 2 after a thrilling day of MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship action. The #22’s first podium of the day came after a last-lap fight with former teammate Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), with Lowes passing the Dutchman at an unusual place on the final lap, while the Race 2 rostrum came in a dramatic 20-lap battle for the WorldSBK field.

Lowes started the 10-lap Superpole Race from second place after a strong performance in Saturday’s Tissot Superpole session, using it to full advantage to fight for the podium places throughout the race. Van der Mark got ahead of the Brit on the penultimate lap as he searched for a first podium in three years, but Lowes responded brilliantly on the final lap, getting alongside the #60 at Turn 8 with the pair running side-by-side over the hill and down into Turn 9 with Lowes emerging ahead of the BMW rider.

Discussing his battle with van der Mark, Lowes said: “I’m a big admirer of Michael, we were teammates for a few years at Yamaha. I respect him a lot as a rider. He’s had a difficult few years with the leg injuries he’s had so I’m happy to see him back, every week, fighting for the top six. I felt like he deserved the podium! It was close on the last lap. We had a lot of battles when we were teammates, so it was nice to be battling together and fighting for the podium together. Races like that are really enjoyable and well done to him; I’m sure he’s going to be strong for the rest of the year.”

In a feature interview ahead of the Pirelli Portuguese Round, Lowes declared that he was riding the best he’s ever ridden and he’s continued his fine form with two more podiums. He’s continued his record of taking a rostrum at every round this season except for the Catalunya Round, where he was in the top six in every race and is now just 10 points behind Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) in the Championship standings as he closes in on a top-three placement.

Looking back at Sunday’s success, Lowes stated: “I’m happy with our Sunday and to be back on the full-length podium again. It’s one of my better weekends of the year. It’s been enjoyable. We had to get used to a different schedule. Because the race was a bit more in the evening, the wind was really high and made the bike difficult to manage. It was really physical and easy to make a mistake. I used my experience well. I made a couple of small mistakes and lost the gap to the guys. I’m really enjoying riding the bike. I’m able to ride on the limit. I feel quite fast, there’s a great atmosphere in the team, we’re enjoying it all together. Already looking forward to Magny-Cours so a positive weekend.”

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