On the top step : Lowes isn ’ t the spent force some thought
on track and fifth in the record books was a fabulous result for the BMW team , it doesn ’ t give any indication if they ’ ve overcome the previous tyre degradation issues that have seen their riders fade in the later stages of full-length races . Toprak ’ s style on the BMW was clearly not quite as aggressive as he was on the Yamaha . Still very late on the brakes but now slightly more susceptible to being overtaken in the braking zone and the rear wheel rarely danced as vigorously for him on the BMW as it did previously on the Yamaha . Just a different dynamic with the bike maybe , or attempts to reduce tyre wear ? No doubt things will become clearer as the season progresses . And Rea ? A distant seventeenth in Race One after a less than happy race debut on the Yamaha .
SUPERPOLE AND RACE TWO Sunday ’ s Tissot Superpole ten-lap sprint , which was short enough to not require a midrace tyre change , showcased that Alex Lowes was far from the spent force that some had written him off to be . A brilliantly measured
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