Home talent Niccolò Canepa secured a top ten finish on his debut race with the Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli this afternoon as he claimed seventh in the 21-lap battle.
Alex Lowes rode a strong opening race, holding an excellent fourth position until half distance before his shoulder injury restricted his pace, crossing the line in 13th.
Canepa immediately fought hard as race one began, building on the weekend's momentum and frustrated by his qualifying session - after a red flag situation called time early on the opening Superpole, preventing him from setting a lap on the optimum tyres. Jumping five places, to tenth, as the lights went out the Italian continued to push, circulating in eighth from the second lap before his pace improved further in the closing laps. Taking a sensational seventh place on his debut race on the YZF-R1 Canepa claimed nine championship points for himself and his Pata Yamaha team.
A stunning qualifying performance on Saturday morning, setting a 1'34.641 time, gave Lowes a fourth place start as the grid lined up for the opening contest. Strong off the lights, the British rider managed to avoid the second corner incident and was running sixth as he crossed the line for the first lap. Continuing to progress on the riders around him he claimed fourth by the next revolution, holding the position for the next eight laps until his strength, due to the recent injury, began to wane. Determined to continue to fight and battling hard to regain his rhythm, Lowes eventually took 13th position at the flag but is eager for more in Sunday's return, at 13:00 local time.
Source: www.yamaha-racing.com
