Sam Lowes scored his second podium in three races with third place in Race 1 at the French WorldSBK round, yet again trailing the leading duo by a clear margin.
Nicolo Bulega dominated once more, while Iker Lecuona slotted between Lowes and his team-mate. The Marc VDS rider could take satisfaction from beating Yari Montella for the first time since Aragon's Superpole Race, but factory Ducati machinery continues to hold the edge over satellite riders.
Honest Admission: Still Something Missing
Lowes was pleased with his qualifying lap that earned him second on the grid and with his Race 1 performance, but he admitted the top two remain a step ahead.
"I feel like I'm the third-fastest at the minute," Lowes told WorldSBK.com. "I felt quite comfortable, but I'm just missing a bit to go with the top-two. We just need to keep working and improving a couple of areas."
Key Area: Consistency and Bike Balance
The British rider highlighted the need to improve the consistency of front-end feeling from start to finish. With a full fuel tank early on, he feels the bike is too front-limited, while late in the race he struggles on corner exit.
"I learnt a lot today. I think we can improve the balance for tomorrow. I need to improve the engine brake in a couple of corners because I'm asking a lot from the bike. So, just polishing a few bits," he added.
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