Lowes sets pace at Phillip Island

Alex Lowes set the fastest lap time across the two free practice sessions in the World Superbikes at Phillip Island on Friday. Ahead of the season opening races on Sunday, Britain's Lowes - for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki - clocked a lap of one minute, 31.100 seconds at the famed Australian circuit in second free practice. Italian pair Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) and Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) were second and third quickest, recording best laps of 1:31.137 and 1:31.205 respectively. Lowes' countrymen Tom Sykes, the defending Superbikes champion, and Jonathan Rea - fastest in a weather-affected first practice session - were fourth and fifth quickest. Sykes, for Kawasaki Racing Team, clocked 1:31.395, while Rea's best time of 1:31.436 was far better than his session-topping time of 1:37.033 earlier in the wet for PATA Honda World Superbike. Irishman Eugene Laverty - team-mate of Lowes - was sixth quickest (1:31.448) as he began his bid to better his runner-up finish in the 2013 championship race.