Elf Marc VDS Sam Lowes fought hard in difficult conditions to claim a second row start for Sunday’s 23-lap race at Portimao.

Friday’s rain continued across Saturday morning’s final practice with Lowes choosing to sit out of the first half of the 40-minute session. Utilising the second half to adapt to his revised wet weather settings, he set the third fastest time on his ninth and final lap to progress directly into Q2.

A dry track - with precarious patches - greeted the intermediate class for qualifying and their first taste of the rollercoaster on slick Dunlop rubber. Once again Lowes left it to the final seconds to dispatch his fastest lap, having circulated repeatedly amongst the top group throughout the closing stages. His 1’44.827 lining him up at the back of the second row, in sixth, six-tenths from Aron Canet’s pole time.

“I’ve felt quite good all weekend,” Lowes said from the Portuguese paddock. “I didn’t do a good lap in Q2 - it should have been a little bit stronger - but in the end, I wouldn’t have been on pole, or even the front row anyway so I’m happy to get on the second row.

“I feel a bit more confident this weekend and I’m enjoying riding. For sure it’s difficult to understand too much from today but the goal was to be on the front two rows. We did that so now the aim is to have a good warm-up and a good start.

“Hopefully it will be a dry race. We have a new rear slick here this weekend. A couple of guys look quite strong, and did the test here in February where they got good information. It will be an interesting race, but I’m enjoying myself and we’ll be competitive. I know how to be fast on this track so I’m looking forward to it.”