Lowes enjoyed a strong start to the Portimao WorldSBK weekend after finishing fifth in Race 1, however, that’s as good as it got for the British rider🐠.

A crash on the opening lap of ๊the Superpole Race saw him lose out on a potential podium, before the Kawasaki rider was absent from Race 2.

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As a result of finishing Sunday’s double-header scoreless, Lowes has drop🀅ped down to ninth spot in the standings, behind Xavi Vierge who is also on 140 points. 

Speaking after Race 2, Lowes said🍒: “A disappointing day, obviously. My start was not that bad in the Superpole Race, and it is always good to be starting near the front. 

“It was a little bit better than Jonathan’s but th𒊎en he came past in T1. I was trying not to be too aggressive, but at the start of those Superpole races if you do not attack you get attacked. 

“So I was just on the back of Jonny; had a little look in T3, and as we went into T4 I had a really good run but I stayed to the right o♊f him.ꩲ 

“I could see that he made to go past Locatelli. I cut to t📖he apex rather than stay on the outside and maybe get caught in this issue, so I c🎀ut into the inside. 

“But I couldn’t see, I got bl🅠indsided and hit the inside of ♍the corner. It is a shame because I think I would have had a good chance. 

“Even when the team repaired the bike w⭕hen I went back out, my pace was for the top five. I went sprinting towards my bike, full of adrenaline, but we know that it is not too long since I had knee surgery. 

“When I went out again I was not 100%. So I will go home, reset and try to finish the year strongly in ▨Jerez.”

Lowes has not stepped on the podium since the sec🦄ond round of the year in Mandalika, although he still has 🌸one more chance to change that at Jerez later this month.