The winner of the fantastic World Supersport race may have been Luca Scassa on returning factory Yamaha, but the rider making the biggest impact was newcomer Sam Lowes.
Surrounded by experienced Supersport racers, Lowes remained committed and demonstrated overtaking moves and glancing gaps more befitting of a Phillip Island veteran, instead of a rookie to the Australian circuit. Over the course of the race the lead was contested by a host of seven and more riders, joining Lowes and Scassa were, Chaz Davies, Fabien Foret, the two Motocard.com Kawasaki's of Parkes and Salom and Robbin Harms.
An issue with the rear Pirelli mysteriously puncturing saw three riders fall victim, including both front-runners Foret and Davies - the latter finishing without a points reward in 18th.
The battle continued at the front with Lowes leading in the closing stages and within a gasp of a debut victory in his first full-time WSS race, before being slipstreamed by both Scassa and Parkes to the line. The winning margin a miniscule 0.009 seconds.
"I was a bit nervous but I got a decent start and then made some moves on the riders around me. I knew it was a long race and was thinking about tyre wear," said Lowes, "I passed Luca on the last lap but did not get a mega run on to the start/finish straight. Third in my first race is great; I am loving my team and my bike, I am enjoying myself.”
Full results and gallery below:
1. Luca Scassa (Yamaha ParkinGO Team) Yamaha YZF R6 33'34.739
2. Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) Kawasaki ZX-6R 33'34.748
3. Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) Honda CBR600RR 33'34.772
4. David Salom (Kawasaki Motocard.com) Kawasaki ZX-6R 33'35.011
5. Robbin Harms (Harms Benjan Racing Team) Honda CBR600RR 33'51.708
6. James Ellison (Bogdanka PTR Honda) Honda CBR600RR 33'58.682
7. Florian Marino (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) Honda CBR600RR 34'06.527
8. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Lorenzini by Leoni) Kawasaki ZX-6R 34'06.576
9. Alexander Lundh (Cresto Guide Racing Team) Honda CBR600RR 34'06.609
10. Danilo Dell'Omo (Suriano Racing Team) Triumph Daytona 675 34'07.556
11. Ronan Quarmby (Suriano Racing Team) Triumph Daytona 675 34'18.538
12. Ondrej Jezek (SMS Racing) Honda CBR600RR 34'30.855
13. Bastien Chesaux (MACH Racing) Honda CBR600RR 34'34.794
14. Balazs Nemeth (Team Hungary Toth) Honda CBR600RR 34'40.738
15. Imre Toth (Team Hungary Toth) Honda CBR600RR 34'41.057
16. Vladimir Ivanov (Step Racing Team) Honda CBR600RR 34'49.211
17. Marko Jerman (MD Team Jerman) Triumph Daytona 675 34'58.922
18. Chaz Davies (Yamaha ParkinGO Team) Yamaha YZF R6 33'49.402
19. Luca Marconi (Bike Service R.T.) Yamaha YZF R6 33'57.186
20. Roberto Tamburini (Bike Service R.T.) Yamaha YZF R6 34'19.812
RT. Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) Honda CBR600RR 24'05.870
RT. Massimo Roccoli (Lorenzini by Leoni) Kawasaki ZX-6R 24'14.506
RT. Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda) Honda CBR600RR 16'18.840
RT. Pawel Szkopek (Bogdanka PTR Honda) Honda CBR600RR 16'19.620
RT. Gino Rea (Step Racing Team) Honda CBR600RR 8'07.572
RT. Mitchell Pirotta (KUJA Racing Team) Honda CBR600RR 2'45.190
