Concerns Over the Switch to Bimota
Alex Lowes initially had reservations about moving from Kawasaki to Bimota. This change came after Kawasaki decided to bring Bimota back to WorldSBK in 2025 following the departure of Jonathan Rea to Yamaha at the end of 2023. Kawasaki concluded that their ZX-10RR was no longer capable of top performance in the series and opted to shift away from developing a multi-purpose sports bike.
The New Bimota KB998
This decision led to the creation of the Bimota KB998, designed with a new aerodynamic package and a chassis by the Italian manufacturer, ready to take over from the ZX-10RR in 2025. Lowes had a standout season in 2024, achieving seven podium finishes and two race wins, culminating in a fourth-place finish in the championship standings. This success made him apprehensive about starting anew with an untested motorcycle after performing well on the Kawasaki for five years.
Reflections on 2024
“Yes, that’s essentially what occurred,” Lowes mentioned in an interview with Crash.net during Motorcycle Live. “2024 was one of my best years, and even though I was fourth in the championship, I had 12 or 13 podiums and felt competitive everywhere.” He noted that despite the bike having minimal changes, he was able to extract better performance, making the idea of transitioning to a different bike nerve-wracking.
Frustrations in 2025
While Lowes was generally satisfied with 2025, he expressed frustration over specific races, particularly in Portugal. He reflected, “It was a good year apart from two races. Donington was less frustrating because I felt strong, but unfortunately got injured and couldn’t race on Sunday. Yet, Portimao was disappointing due to a qualifying yellow flag that pushed me to the back of the grid.”
Performance Analysis
Lowes described learning to adapt his riding style for the KB998, mentioning that breaking old habits from years on the Kawasaki took time. He revealed, “I’m really enjoying the bike now; it’s a pleasure to ride, though we need to keep pushing for more performance.” However, he acknowledged that the Bimota required improvement in straight-line speed compared to competitors like Honda, BMW, and Ducati, and the options for enhancing engine performance are limited due to the championship’s rules.
Future Developments
Looking ahead, Lowes highlighted that the team has plans to enhance bike performance in the upcoming season, stating, “We’ll try to make incremental improvements in various areas.” He remains positive about developing the Bimota, especially as they revisit familiar tracks, which could position them better in the standings.
Collaboration with BSB Team
As the FS-3 BSB team prepares to transition from ZX-10RRs to KB998s for the 2026 season, Lowes will lend his expertise. He shared, “I’m mainly offering advice, but I believe the Bimota will perform well on British tracks.” He also noted that young riders joining the team will be beneficial, emphasizing the importance of growing the Bimota brand and sharing the motorcycle’s potential with wider audiences.
