Second for Axel Bassani and third for Alex Lowes in the Australian WorldSBK Superpole Race marked a first double podium for Bimota since 1988, and therefore the first in the brand’s current World Superbike guise, something to be “proud” of in the opinion of the latter rider.

Lowes’ Superpole Race was sandwiched between two disappointing full-distance races: seventh in Race 1 and a crash in the wet Race 2.

But the 10-lap performance was something to be pleased about, the British rider feeling he’d been able to make significant progress overnight after a major setting change.

“It was good,” Lowes said of his Superpole Race, speaking to WorldSBK.com after Race 2 in Australia.

“We’ve been struggling a bit this week to really find our base setting. I’d say it was probably one of the biggest changes I’ve made from Saturday to Sunday. So, I was quite happy to be immediately fast in Warm Up [and] fast in the Superpole Race.

“I slowed down a little bit too much when it started raining, but my pace was good to the end, I managed to hold off the Ducatis, had a good race with my brother for a couple of laps. 

“So, nice to get the first podium of the year, and fantastic for Axel’s [Bassani] first podium for the team, both Bimotas on the podium – the guys have been working so hard, so what a start to the year. 

“A shame it didn’t stay dry for the second race, but we’re happy to be starting the year with some good speed because even if the results on paper were not overall fantastic the speed we had every session, both riders there, is great.”

About Bimota’s double WorldSBK podium Lowes added: “Really proud of it. Axel’s been fast all week. The old thing in racing [is]: you want to beat your teammate. But the reality is if your teammate is 15th and your fifth or sixth… What you really want is races like today where you’re both battling for top-fives, both battling for podiums. 

“So, this was a pleasure, really happy for him, happy for the team, and it’s a good challenge for me to try to improve for Portugal.”

Race 2 crash: “I had no rear grip”

The rain in Race 2 seemed as though it would mix things up for the final race. Nicolo Bulega had been dominating the weekend to that point, winning both Race 1 and the Superpole Race from pole position, and maybe rain would be something for the others to take advantage of.

However, the Italian remained unbeatable even in the rain, winning comfortably.

For Lowes, though, the rain caused him to make a key setup decision that ultimately went against him. 

Thinking the track could dry out quickly, he chose to go with a dry setup with softened-off suspension rather than a full wet weather setting. 

As the rain continued almost throughout the whole race, this proved to be a mistake and he found himself with little grip, which ultimately led to his crash out of fifth.

“I’m more or less okay,” he said. “Fast crash, honestly, but we just went with a dry bike softened off and I didn’t have any rear grip. 

“It’s really easy now to say ‘You should’ve put the full wet setting’, but this place dries so fast and the weather changes so fast. So, hindsight in racing is fantastic. We chose one way, it didn’t work. 

“I nearly crashed probably five or six times, so it’s like I was trying to crash, almost, and unfortunately crashed at turn one. 

“Didn’t really do too much different, just had no grip on the rear, [it] escaped really fast. But luckily I’m okay. 

“Shame for the conditions in Race 2, shame not to be able to bring the bike home, but overall a positive weekend and it’s nice to be fighting at the front to start our championship.”