Voltcom Suzuki's Alex Lowes produced another World Superbikes masterclass on the Suzuki to take top spot in second practice at the Chang International circuit in Thailand.
The British rider will be hoping he can translate the speed he found into qualifying and race day, following a disappointing time in Phillip Island at the previous round.
Lowes enjoyed the best of the practice battling with Jonathan Rea, with the Ulsterman coming out on top in the first session as Lowes improved his initial 16th all the way up into fifth.
In the second session it looked again as if Rea would have the last laugh on a circuit he’d said was ‘really, really nice’.
His 1’35.004 had almost every rider out on track trying to depose him and with just under ten minutes left it looked as if the Ulsterman had done enough to take all the practice plaudits.
Then Lowes upped the ante. A 1’35.326 on his GSX-R1000 was cause for encouragement and it was clear the Suzuki man was pushing hard and taking it to Rea.
Just minutes before the session ended Lowes had his bike by the scruff of the neck and his 1’34.685 blasted him towards top spot, although Rea did throw something back at him.
A 1’34.751 just as the session ended made things look close, but second practice was all about Lowes’ ferocious time-attack, which puts the Derby-based in a great position to build from going into Superpole.
The top five places in the second session was dominated by British riders, with Chaz Davies and Leon Haslam posting identical 1’35.288s for joint-third and Tom Sykes holding fifth with a 1’35.457.
Sylvain Guintoli looked to be enjoying the PATA Honda a little better in Buriram and he’ll be content with sixth place, as Troy Bayliss secured an impressive seventh place finish in the session.
Rounding out the top ten were Matteo Baiocco, a somewhat disappointing Jordi Torres and David Salom.
Leon Camier had something of a torrid time on the MV Agusta and he could only deliver a best place 16th, with a 1’37.146, just behind Michael Van Der Mark.
