Voltcom Suzuki’s Alex Lowes has vowed to take both Portimao World Superbike races by the scruff of the neck tomorrow after pulling some laps out of the bag in Superpole today and bagging a second-row start.

The Derby-based rider has had some more electronic problems at the Portugese track which resulted in a loss of confidence but some work by the team turned the bike back around and he was able to stick in a 1’42.4s time with race tyre in Superpole two and then use the sticky Pirelli qualifier to end on a 1’42.198 which was enough for fourth place next to big mate Leon Haslam.

“We have had a couple of big moments that affected my confidence a little bit. The bike was doing some weird things, then all the data you have becomes irrelevant. When the electronics are working, they are working consistently, but they weren’t working,” said Lowes, speaking at Portimao.

“This caused the moments and because they are out of your control, it affects your confidence. But we have worked hard again, picked ourselves up after the practices, cleared my mind for qualifying and we had a go. All I can do tomorrow is do the same and have more of a go.”