News
WORLD SUPERSPORT WILD CARD FOR LOWES!!!
7th July 2010GNS Racing has secured a prestigious wild card entry for the forthcoming World Supersport Championship round to be held at Silverstone on 1st August which will see Sam Lowes take on the best in the world!!
Following a dominant performance at Knockhill last weekend, Sam currently leads the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship and will be looking for a good result when he takes on the series regulars aboard his Honda CBR600RR for the Southampton-based team.
Sam has experience of racing at World Championship level having ridden for Italian Honda Team Echo CRS Grand Prix for five World Supersport races last season and in 2008, he raced in the European Superstock 600 Championship for Team Azione Corse with a best result of sixth at Donington Park.
Sam Lowes:
"This is fantastic news and a brilliant opportunity to test myself against the World's best Supersport racers. The new Silverstone track is awesome and will suit my style so I'm hoping we can get a good result. I'm not making any predictions but will be giving it my best shot and see what happens. After all, whilst this is a nice distraction, I remain fully focused on winning the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship for my team and sponsors this year, as it's thanks to them that I'm in this great position."
Gary Stubbington (Team Owner/Manager - GNS Racing):
"Sam's performances this year means a wild card ride at Silverstone is fully deserved and we aim to make the most of the opportunity. We have some modifications to do to the bike in order to comply technically and run slightly different fuel and tyres but we're confident that Sam can get a great result. It's credit to the team, which is brand new this year, that we are able to race in a World Championship event so everyone can be justifiably proud of our achievements to date."
CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER LOWES WINS AT KNOCKHILL!!
4th July 2010Sam has put in a faultless ride at Knockhill today taking his second win of the year in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship on the GNS Racing Honda CBR600RR. Having taken the lead on the eighth lap, he pulled rapidly away from the rest of the pack to secure his second win of the year and take a healthy 15 point lead in the Championship table.
He put in a solid performance in free practice and qualifying, held in dry weather, and was never outside the top five, eventually qualifying in fifth place. However, race day was anything but dry with heavy rain and strong winds hitting the Scottish circuit. Sam was equally comfortable in the wet though and, after completing the first lap in fourth place, he was up to third a lap later right in the wheel tracks of Glen Richards and Ian Hutchinson.
The safety car came out for three laps on lap five but when it went in Sam made his move and immediately moved to the front of the pack. Lapping over a second quicker than anyone else, he was almost six seconds clear when the race was stopped due to a number of incidents out on the track. The race was declared a result and with Sam's main rivals James Westmoreland and Billy McConnell only finishing in 6th and 12th respectively, the 25 points for the win have seen him move into the Championship lead at the half way stage of the season.
Sam Lowes:
"Fifth place in qualifying wasn't quite where I wanted to be but, wet or dry, my lap times were consistent so when I saw it was going to be a wet race, I just wanted to have a clean few laps before getting my head down. Once I got some clear track, I just tried to keep as smooth as possible and it all worked out perfectly. The bike was fantastic all weekend, as it has been all year and I'm over the moon to get my second win of the year. I'm leading the Championship now, which is obviously where I want to be, and with the Yamaha boys having a bit of an off day, there's a bit of a gap there now although there's still a long way to go. A massive thank you to all the team and sponsors again for giving me a great package to go out there and do the business."
LOWES CROWNED 2009 SUPERSPORT CUP CHAMPION
from www.britishsuperbike.comCo-ordit Performance Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Cup title contender Sam Lowes, delivered the goods at the final round by taking the race win to secure the 2009 crown as the season drew to a thrilling close at Oulton Park at the weekend.
Lowes was immediately on the pace on the Co-ordit Honda, putting in a series of stunning laps to qualify in tenth position for the final race of the season, with his closest Cup rivals back on the fifth and seventh rows.
The packed grid jostled for position through the first few tricky corners, with Lowes losing a few places from his start position but knowing all he needed for the title was to finish ahead of Dean Hipwell and Robbie Brown. At the close of lap one, Lowes was in the driving seat, three places ahead on track of Brown.
As the race progressed, Lowes clung to the tails of the top ten riders in a respectable 12th, looking for extra points to better his 11th place standing in the main championship. Lady luck fell on his side as Brown crashed out at the Hizzy's Chicane on lap three, leaving Hipwell his closest Cup rival and he was running outside of the top 20. Lowes completed the remaining laps unscathed to take the chequered flag and secure the Cup title; the first British Championship crown for the Co-ordit Performance team.
Lowes said: "What a fantastic feeling to be crowned champion! After all our efforts, and a few set backs along the way, all of our hard work has paid off. I'm really happy to be able to repay the team with the championship and thank them for all of their support this year and believing in my ability to take the title. I'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone that has helped me this season."
LOWES REWARDS NEW TEAM WITH TOP SIX RESULT AT CADWELL
by Martin KnightonSam Lowes once again turned on the style to finish in sixth place overall in round nine of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship over the Bank Holiday weekend at Cadwell Park. He also extended his unbeaten Cup run to four consecutive victories to increase his lead over Robbie Brown to 13 points, with three rounds remaining.
The Lincolnshire youngster has switched teams since the last outing at Brands Hatch, and has settled in well with Team Co-Ordit during their first race weekend together. He had the misfortune of an incident in testing just over a week prior to Cadwell Park, damaging fingers on his left hand, but despite the discomfort battled to an excellent result, both for himself and his new colleagues.
Free practice around the 2.18 mile circuit witnessed Lowes completing 37 laps over the two sessions, with his best time good enough for sixth position, a second shy of front man, Billy McConnell.
The following morning’s first qualifying session proved very competitive, but Lowes, as always, was up to the challenge, setting some very impressive lap times. Unfortunately, towards the end of the session he would clip the painted rumble strip with the engine casing on the left hander at Hall Bends, the front wheel just lifting enough to cause him to crash out with only a few minutes remaining. Final qualifying was held in less than perfect conditions, with light rain falling for part of the session. Despite the conditions, Lowes completed nine laps and recorded the sixth fastest time, but on combined times, with the morning being dry, he would find himself in ninth place on the grid for the 16 lap race.
As race day got underway, Lowes gave himself a confidence boost, setting the second fastest time in morning warm up, in front of a huge Bank Holiday crowd.
Lowes lined up alongside Championship leader Steve Plater, and South African AJ Venter on the third row of the grid, and as the race began he made a good start making his way through to sixth place as they headed down the Park Straight for the first time. Steve Plater and Ian Hutchinson came through shortly after leaving Lowes in eighth place at the end of the first lap. He would be promoted back up to sixth after seeing Lee Johnston crash out and Ben Wilson retire after his chain came off going over the mountain. Over the coming laps Lowes would have a good battle with Ian Hutchinson and tried to out smart Dan Linfoot but the Yamaha proved too quick on the straights. AJ Venter came through strongly towards the end of the race to join the battle, but with only a few laps remaining Lowes maintained his focus and determination to take the chequered flag in sixth position for his best result of the year, and yet another victory in the British Supersport Cup. Team Co-Ordit were naturally, very pleased with his performance.
“I’ve really enjoyed this weekend, the team has been right behind me and it’s nice to repay them with a decent result. In the race I got a good start, and was confident running in the top six, but I’m now pushing for podiums, which is where I want to be. I’ve extended my lead in the Supersport Cup, and now head to the Nurburgring this weekend for another crack at the World Supersport lads." an upbeat Lowes explained afterwards.
I would like to say a big thank you to all my fans and let’s hope we can have a big finish to the year, both in Britain and Europe. Stay on it! “
SAM LOWES WINS AT BRANDS HATCH
by Helen PaskSam Lowes got his season off to the best of starts by taking the win in the British Supersport Cup in his very first outing on the Astro Racing Honda CBR600RR at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday. He finished 10th in the overall results to claim valuable points and move into 10th place in the rider standings.
The British Supersport Cup is run within the main British Supersport championship and is aimed at riders with limited Supersport class experience. The championship is decided over 10 rounds instead of the usual 12 thus allowing the riders to use their best 10 results from the 12 rounds or discount a bad result. The Cup forms part of the main race thus allowing points to be scored in both championships.
Free practice and qualifying went well for the 18-year-old Lincoln rider who consistently topped the leaderboard in the Cup section and for one session in the wet he was the fastest rider on the circuit beating the likes of seasoned campaigner Steve Plater. He went on to qualify in 10th place to earn a third row grid position for the start of the 25-lap race and was by far the quickest Cup rider, the second placed Cup competitor being nine places back on row five.
Despite getting away to a good start Lowes was forced to take evasive action as a rider ahead faltered and consequently found himself way down the order on the first lap.
"A rider ahead made a mistake and I had to shut off rapidly to avoid hitting him. It is always a bit tight with everyone jostling for position and I got pushed down to 19th at the first corner with a lot of ground to make up." he explained.
But Lowes didn't give up and got his head down and put in some consistently fast laps to get back in touch with a large group of riders some way ahead.
He gradually reeled in the group and was on the tail of the last of the riders by the midway stage of the race. Lowes then set about tackling the group and scythed through the pack to 10th place on lap 19. He managed to pass a couple more riders but was beaten back and ended his race in a well-deserved 10th place and being the first rider home in the Cup section took his debut win in the class.
"I am happy enough with that result." said Lowes. "For my first time out it is pleasing to win the Cup section of the race. I was also encouraged to see that I posted the sixth fastest lap of the race. The pace was really hot out there; so much so that a new lap record was established so to be sixth fastest is really good for me. The bike has potential for a lot more so hopefully the next round at Oulton will go as well if not better for me."
Lowes is a previous race winner at Oulton Park as he won a round of the British 125cc Championship there when he was just 15 years of age. His identical twin brother Alex was second on that occasion so it was a double celebration.
Round two of the British Supersport and Cup championship takes place on Monday, May 4.
LOWES RETURNS TO UK RACING WITH ASTRO
by Helen PaskAfter a year away racing in Europe, youngster Sam Lowes is to return to UK racing for 2009 and has joined forces with Stuart Tromans of Astro Racing to contest the British Supersport Championship.
The 18-year-old Lincolnshire rider is to race a Honda CBR600RR Supersport bike and will be based in the Astro Racing garage throughout the season. He is to race in the highly competitive British Supersport championship and is to contest the British Supersport Cup, which runs within the main championship and is aimed at those riders with less experience.
The British Supersport championship is the main support class to the British Superbike championship and forms part of the live British Eurosport television coverage.
The Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Cup is decided over 10 rounds rather than 12 to allow riders to use their best 10 results or discount a bad round. But as part of the main championship there is the opportunity to pick up points and benefit from the prize fund in the main championship as well as the Cup.
Stuart Tromans, owner of Astro Racing is backing a number of riders this season and said: “Sam Lowes is a young rider with outstanding talent and along with my other two riders, Alex Gault and Chris Northover represents the best of the youth crop of today and I hope that the Astro involvement will be beneficial to his advancement within the sport.”
Lowes added: “I am really happy to have joined forces with Stuart and the whole team are really looking forward to the new season.”
The opening round of the British Supersport championship is set for Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend but prior to that Sam is to represent his country at Donington Park at the end of March where he has been selected to ride for England in the Supersport class of the inaugural MotoSix, Six Nations Road Race Championship on Saturday/Sunday, March 28/29.
