Yakhnich Yamaha’s Sam Lowes says was upset by the tactics used by Kenan Sofuoglu to win the Silverstone World Supersport race on Sunday and believes the move was no mistake on the Turkish rider's part.
The Derby-based rider was able to get up and still finish second, such was their lead over the field and even though Lowes' team lodged a protest with race direction and an appeal to the FIM stewards, Sofuoglu was not punished for the incident.
Lowes was surprised by the move made by Sofuoglu and did not expect it, when both were fighting for the lead. He is now moving forward and looking at the positives; that he took away 20 points from the race weekend at Silverstone, and still has a solid lead in the championship.
“To be honest his bike was faster than mine and I passed him and then my plan was that he was going to pass me down the straight and run wide on the left, as I was going to run deep and then I was going to cut back. But I did not expect him to run into the side of me, that’s for sure,” said Lowes, speaking to bikesportnews.com.
“If that is how it is, 20 points, that's good. I am still 29 points in the lead, we are alright and I picked the bike up fast. Obviously I am upset but the pace was fast as I was a long way from the others as I crashed and got back on, and finished second.
“At the end of the day I have made more passes than anyone in the championship and I have never knocked anyone off, as I am that sort of rider, but he has a few times. Part of me can’t help but think that in a first gear corner that he meant to do that. My opinion is that he did it on purpose.”
Lowes is trying to be the ‘bigger person’ in all of this and insists that he does not dislike the Turkish rider but can’t help but feel upset by the whole affair.
“I felt really good and I passed where I could and he passed where he couldn’t - he won and I finished second. But it was quite evenly matched for all the race. I don’t dislike him, he is a good motorbike racer, but I am a little bit gutted as I feel that move was a bit harsh because I fell off. In my opinion it was not on.
“I am 29 points in the lead and I am going to be a bigger person. I am a little bit upset because I feel that I should have won the race but it is good. I am happy about the championship and I only lost five points.”
