While team-mate Jonathan Rea topped both sessions, Lowes also slotted into a competitive third, ju🀅st 0.289s behind the Ulsterman.

The only ri෴der to get between the ZX-10Rs ꦗwas Ducati’s newly crowned champion Alvaro Bautista.

“It was good, really positive, coming off the back of a tough weekend last weekend [at Mandalika] where I couldn’t get the feeling I needed,” said Lowes. “Today’s been the opposite; I didn’t t☂ouch the bike today really.

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“I just tried to relax. It’s aཧll about tyre life and trying to get the tyres to last over the 22 laps here.

“In the first session, I used the same𝓰 tyre. In the afternoon, we made a small change and it felt a little bit ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚbetter on the front. In general, we had a really positive day and I’m happy with the feeling I have with the bike.

“There are a few more bumps at Phil⛎lip Island than I remember, especially at the l🌄ast corners and at Turn 3, but it’s not bad.”

While Rea is seeking to end a 24-race win drought stretching back to Estoril, Loweꦜs hasn’t been on the top step of the WorldSBK podium since 2020.

“It was good for Kawasak♛i. We want to be fꦦighting for the top step,” he said of the 1-3 Friday form.

“Obviously, Jonny’s not won for a long time so it would be nice to have a Kawasaki up there winni♐ng and I feel this weekend, if it’s dry anyway, we have a good chance to go and fight for victor𝔉y.”

After a dry Friday, weather forecasts predict a risk of rain during Saturday and Sundaꦇy.

“I just tried to relax. It’sꦐ all ab๊out tyre life and trying to get the tyres to last over the 22 laps here.

“In the first session, I us✅ed the same tyre. In the afternoon, we made a small change and it felt a little bit better on the front. In general, we had a really positive day and I’m happy with the feeꦚling I have with the bike.

“There are ꦉa few more bumps at Phillip Island than I remember, especially at the last corners and at Turn 3, but it’s not bad.”

While Rea is seeking to end a 24-race win drought stretching back to Estoril, Lowes h♎asn’t been on the top step of the WorldSBK ﷽podium since 2020.

“It was good for Ka𝄹wasaki. We want to be fighting for the top step,” Lowes said of the team's 1-3 Friday form.

“Obviously, 🍃Jonny’s not won for a long time so it would be nice to have a Kawasaki up there winning and I feel this weekend, if it’s dry anyway, we have a good chance to go and fight for🌟 victory.”

After a su🍰nny Friday, weather forecasts predict 🍃a risk of rain on Saturday and Sunday.

Lowes starts Saturday's opening race holding sixth in the world championship, 11 points behind An꧙drea Locatelওli (Yamaha) and 4 ahead of Axel Bassani (Ducati).