Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes was closest to Alvaro Bautista on day one at Aragon, managing to cut a second deficit in half after WorldSBK second practice, but says the V4R is still way too far in front.

But the Derby-based rider is pleased to see someone other than the former MotoGP rider able to bring the new Panigale into the top five.

“The Ducati is still too far in front,” said Lowes, before immediately paying respect to his new-for-2019 rival, and drawing another top name into the conversation. “Alvaro is riding exceptionally. Obviously Eugene has had hardly any testing and his brakes failed at the last race.

“He has not had a real good run but he is looking looking really strong here today, so it proves that the bike - even with the different suspension of that team - is really strong.

All the riders are fast in WorldSBK they just need the package to click to be at the front. I think, anyway. I followed Leon Camier - who is a fantastic rider - and it is clear that the Honda is not competitive at the minute.

“I do not follow Leon Camier and think, ‘Oh, I am twice as good as you’. So it is nice to see other bikes come into the mix and be competitive. That is the bottom line.”

On the first day Lowes was able to close down Bautista a little even with a badly-behaved R1. “Today I made a step on the worn tyres and I felt quite good. I still want improve more; the bike is not too easy to ride.

“I have to ride it quite hard. But the guys are doing a good job and we have been doing a good job in the first few hours. I am enjoying it.”

With Bautista so far ahead right now, Lowes has a slightly different immediate goal than in other seasons. “I know I am happy to be on the podium, which is never nice to say because you want to be winning races.

I think Alvaro has managed to understand the strengths of the bike and he is riding it really well. He is in a different race at the minute.”

With Lowes second on day one, his team-mate Michael van der Mark was languishing in 12th. As it seemed, just as Lowes was flying VDM was suffering. “He won’t be suffering,” said Lowes. “I push the bike to the limit every session. When they change the bike and even if it is not quite right I ride to the limit and say, ‘there are the problems’.

“Michael rides it best in races and sometimes if it is not quite right… he and I have different styles. He will always be there in a race Michael, it is a big strength from him. Same with Marco, in the practices he will be more cautious, let’s say, but normally in a race he ends up there.”

After having a pop at Melandri, as well as praising him, in Thailand, Melandri said to the Italian media that Lowes did not speak in a good way about riders.

Not so says Lowes, “I will let you make the decision. If you look at how I speak about riders, and how he is with people. I will let you make the decision. I am pretty sure that if you ask all the other riders – even the interview I did about Marco – if you look at that, 75% of what I said about Marco was positive.

But he does not look at this part. I just highlighted a few points where he has been not correct in the Yamaha programme. If you are honest, who do you believe? I am always positive about everyone.

“I have a great relationship with everyone and I expect the other guys to have the same respect.”

Lowes also said he was concerned after Thailand that Melandri would possible have a lot of influence in the Yamaha direction now, to sort out the wobble and weave Melandri has, but that no other Yamaha rider has.

“Obviously it was a concern, but they have been really good to me so it looks like everything I have been trying to work towards, they have been trying to do,” affirmed Lowes. “I do not feel any effects yet.

“But obviously it is always a concern because he is someone with a lot of experience and he has a good relationship with some of the guys in Yamaha. So, it is still a concern but they are working hard for me, so I am happy with them.”