Voltcom Suzuki’s Alex Lowes did not have the best debut during his first World Superbike race weekend at the Laguna Seca circuit. He crashed in warm up and ended up causing the first red flag during race two after a big high-side at the Corkscrew.

Lowes clipped the back wheel of Kawasaki’s Loris Baz and a big crash ensued. The current MCE British Superbike champion went straight to the medical centre to be assessed and came out on crutches with bandages around his leg. Lowes has a suspected ankle injury, which looks like it has been aggravated since he first hurt it back at Phillip Island.

At the moment the swelling on the ankle is too bad to get a proper diagnosis, but whatever happens Lowes is confident that he will be ready for the next round, and wants to take home some valuable points for his team.

“I ran off the track and went a bit wide and I was getting a bit frustrated as my pace was faster than Leon’s [Haslam], who I was behind at that point. Then I went into Baz and I could not stop, so the crash was my own fault,” said Lowes.

“I wanted to try better in my second race, as I had a tough day - as I crashed during warm up. But these things happen. But I will be alright and I will come back strong and give the team the results they deserve.

“I don’t really know about my injury, as I have had a bad ankle since Australia. It has swelled up quite a bit, but after a few days we will see what the damage is, but it shouldn’t be too bad. I definitely will be alright for the next race, and that’s all that matters.”

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