PATA Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team rider Alex Lowes - twin brother of 2016 Moto2™ title contender Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) - was one of the three riders to take victory in the 2016 edition of the legendary Suzuka 8H endurance race, alongside Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Monster Yamaha Tech3 MotoGP™ rider Pol Espargaro. After Espargaro had the chance to try the Yamaha YZF-R1, Lowes will now be given the chance to ride the prototype YZF-M1 during the one day official test in Brno on the Monday following the HJC Helmets Grand Prix Ceské Republiky.
Lowes, who was 2013 British Superbike Champion and has been a podium finisher and frontrunner in WorldSBK since his arrival in the category, was an integral part of the incredible winning effort for Yamaha in Suzuka in 2016 - after the manufacturer also won the event in 2015 – and is looking forward to the experience of the prototype machine.
Alex Lowes: “I’m really looking forward to Monday’s test on the YZR-M1. I’m very thankful to Yamaha for providing me the opportunity, and to Hervé Poncharal and the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team for making it possible. Brno is a fantastic circuit and it will be good to work with Pol again, from inside his own garage this time! It’s been a good month already with the Suzuka victory and a really positive test this week on the World Superbike. Yamaha giving me the chance to try one of the best MotoGP bikes in the world will be a great experience for me as a rider and really is the icing on the cake!”