Brits take early honours in Island Superbike test

Alex Lowes upstaged the field with two minutes remaining to set the quickest time on the first of a two-day test ahead of the World Superbike Championship’s opening round at Phillip Island this weekend.

Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) vaulted to the top with a 1:31.332s lap, shading Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), who set a blistering 1:31.663s in the first two hour run.

Leon Haslam also emerged late with an improved time, his 1:31.692s edging Tom Sykes who was fourth on overall classifications.

Spanish rookie Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) was next ahead of Davide Giugliano.

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team rider Guigliano crashed at Turn 11 early in the afternoon session before taking no further part in the day.

The current lap record of 1:30.949s was set by factory Ducati rider Chaz Davies last year.

Meanwhile, triple world champ Kenan Sofuoglu was fastest on combined times from the twin Supersport sessions.

Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R) clocked 1:33.743s, finding almost a 0.5s improvement on the opening hit-out.

Aiden Wagner, the Australian Supersport champ was sixth overall after setting the fourth fastest time in the first segment of testing.

Fellow Australians Glenn Scott (Honda) was 19th with Alex Phillis 20th on the Italian Lorini team Honda while Sam Lambert (Triumph) was 22nd.