A new chapter in the already long history of the Belgian Elf Marc VDS Racing Team opened this Tuesday, with Sam Lowes who made his highly anticipated first appearance on the Ducati Panigale he will ride in the 2024 WorldSBK Superbike Championship.
After rain prevented Lowes from completing a single lap on Monday, the Briton was eager to make his WorldSBK debut the following day and he took to the Jerez track sporting a stunning black and silver test livery.
With ambient temperatures reaching just 14 degrees, the 33-year-old opted to start testing using Pirelli's wet tires on a surface that had not completely dried out after yesterday's rain. The track dried sufficiently in the afternoon to allow Sam Lowes to gain experience with Pirelli slick tires.
This positive-filled test was also the perfect opportunity for the Lincoln man to get to know his new team, while also familiarizing himself with the riding position on the Ducati Panigale.
Sam Lowes : “The day started with a lot of excitement and great anticipation. I really wanted to ride the Ducati and make my WorldSBK debut, but the conditions weren't ideal. Before going out for the first run on a wet track, I was very nervous. But after three laps I had a big smile on my face because the bike was very rider friendly, and that gave me confidence straight away. I immediately felt comfortable with my new team, who were able to explain to me what I needed to focus on to be fast on a Superbike, but also what I was doing well. I have to change my style after such a long time in Moto2, but we have to take it step by step. I definitely need to rethink the way I brake. But I like this bike. It does things incredibly well and is magnificent to ride. The speed is very impressive. I kept shifting gears, but the bike begged to accelerate, and I was impressed with how well the electronics managed performance on worn tires. I'm already looking forward to racing in 2024. I know WorldSBK is a very high level category, but this test convinced me that we can be competitive because I know there is a lot of room for improvement. It’s a big effort from the whole team and from Ducati to allow me to do some testing before Christmas, so I’m very grateful for that. Now I'm going to enjoy a little break but I'm already ready to leave for 2024! »
