News

Another piece of the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship line-up puzzle has fallen into place, with the news that Alex Lowes will remain with the Provec Racing-run Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK outfit into their new era. Previously, it had been announced that Bimota would return to the Championship with the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, with Lowes ensuring he remains with the squad by inking a new deal.

LOWES STAYS FOR A SIXTH SEASON: a new contract for the #22

The British rider initially joined the KRT squad in 2020 and got off to a winning start, claiming victory in Australia and leaving as the Championship leader. It would take another four years before he won again – at the same circuit, winning both races on Sunday this season – the Brit was a vital cog in the machine. The Lincoln-born star has taken 17 podiums in green and currently sits fourth in the standings, after finishing in the top six in eight out of nine races run so far. The Lowes-Provec journey will continue into 2025, when Bimota return to WorldSBK with the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team squad.

BEFORE KAWASAKI: a race winner with Yamaha

Before joining KRT in 2020, the 33-year-old raced for the factory Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team, taking his first WorldSBK win on the R1 at Brno in 2018, as well as his first – and so far, only – pole position, this time at Assen. His last season with the team saw him finish third in the standings, behind Alvaro Bautista and Jonathan Rea, who he’d be teammates with at KRT for four seasons. Lowes’ debut in WorldSBK came in 2011 with Castrol Honda, competing in four races and scoring one point. His full-time debut came in 2014 with Voltcom Crescent Suzuki, before the Crescent Racing squad switched to Yamaha for 2016. He’s been a podium finisher every season in WorldSBK except 2011 and 2016.

EVEN EARLIER: a domestic champion

Lowes earned his WorldSBK seat in 2014 by claiming a commanding British Superbike title the year before. He racked up 643 points in the BSB ‘showdown’ format. He was on the podium 21 times in 26 races, retiring from three and being disqualified in another. His worst classification was fourth at Knockhill. It meant he claimed the title by just seven points ahead of Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne before embarking on his world stage journey.

LOWES’ VIEW: “I believe this opportunity has come at the correct time…”

Discussing his renewal with the team, Lowes said: “I believe this opportunity has come at the correct time. Along with Bimota, Kawasaki are putting huge effort into this new project. Utilising Kawasaki’s nearly 40 years of Superbike racing knowledge and success and also my personal experience with different manufacturers I believe this gives us the best chance to start from the best possible position with the new bike. I have shown that I am still improving and still fast and competitive at the front of WorldSBK. A big thank you to KMC, Bimota and Provec Racing for the faith shown in me. I’m happy to continue to be part of our racing family! I’m enjoying my racing a lot and we still have a lot to focus on during 2024. We had a nice start to the season with a couple of race victories but now our focus is on Misano. It’s a track I really enjoy, we had a test here recently and I felt strong on the bike let’s work hard focus and see what results we can take this weekend. Arigato, grazie mille, muchas gracias and thank you!”

THE TEAM’S OPINION: “He has a very good mind set… super happy that Alex was positive to continue with us despite other offers”

KRT Team Manager Guim Roda praised Lowes following the Brit’s renewal, saying: "With Alex we are on a great journey. We started in Covid times in a difficult season for him to get his racing rhythm, and in ‘21 and ‘22 he suffered various injuries that did not allow him to show his true potential. But he still showed his speed and other qualities in those years. Now is time to take consistency to a new level. Lately rule limitations did not allow us to extract all the potential of our ZX-10RR, but this season we had possibilities to upgrade certain areas on the bike and that has certainly helped Alex. He has a very good mind set, and he has become a good ambassador for Kawasaki. We want to continue with solid our structure next season, and we have next challenges to achieve with the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team project, so we need all our best tools to make it good. Therefore, we are super happy that Alex was positive to continue with us despite other offers he had. For sure now we all can move forward focused to finish 2024 season and start making more history in 2025”.

KAWASAKI THRILLED: “We are delighted to secure the services of Lowes for the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team!”

Shigemi Tanaka, General Manager, Marketing & Sales Division, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd, who is at Misano, commented: “On behalf of Kawasaki and Bimota, we are delighted to secure the services of Alex Lowes for the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team. His experience and race craft are considerable assets plus he has a positive and personal history with many of the staff he will work with on this exciting new racing project. Now Alex can concentrate on yet more success across the rest of the 2024 without distraction while preparations continue for the new team.”

Watch the Lowes-KRT journey continue in style using the WorldSBK VideoPass!