Alex Lowes Trusts Experience for WorldSBK 2026

WorldSBK, Sportrik Media - Experience is set to play a decisive role for Alex Lowes as he heads into the 2026 World Superbike season, following a disrupted pre season in which adverse weather severely limited dry running across European tests.

Lowes joined WorldSBK in 2014 as the reigning British Superbike champion and now enters his 12th full season at the top level of production based racing. With Jonathan Rea retiring from full time competition at the end of last year, no rider on the 2026 grid has more WorldSBK experience than the 35 year old Briton. That depth of knowledge could prove crucial after rain affected both Jerez and Portimao testing in January, leaving teams with minimal preparation ahead of the final pre season test at Phillip Island on 16–17 February.

“I guess I feel pretty much like everyone, not really ready,” Lowes said at the Bimota team launch, speaking to WorldSBK.com.
“But the reality is I have enough experience now to know that everybody feels the same.”

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“There has not been a lot of track time, so everyone is thinking hopefully it is dry at the Phillip Island test so we can get some laps,” he added.
“Everybody is more or less in the same situation.”

Despite the limited running, Lowes remains encouraged by the progress made on the KB998 package and by the direction established at the end of last season.

“The laps we did felt good on the bike, and the tests at the end of 2025 were positive,” he said.
“Overall, it is what it is, and I think we will be okay.”

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The uncertainty heading into 2026 is heightened by extensive changes across the WorldSBK grid. Bimota continues to develop the KB998 in only its second year of competition, while Ducati introduces an updated Panigale V4 R. BMW fields a new factory rider line up, Kawasaki brings an updated ZX 10RR, Honda welcomes two rookies, and Yamaha also reshuffles half of its official rider roster.

For Lowes, that level of change reinforces the need for Bimota to focus inward rather than measure itself against rivals whose true competitiveness remains unclear.

“Other riders have new projects and new bikes,” Lowes explained.
“We do not know their level, but what we can do is control ourselves and make sure we are a little bit better than last year, and that I make fewer mistakes.”

Looking ahead, Lowes has set clear but measured objectives. A first WorldSBK victory for Bimota and a top three championship finish remain realistic ambitions, particularly given how close he came to that position during his final season with Kawasaki in 2024.

“A first win for Bimota would be fantastic, and a top three finish in the championship would be nice,” he said.
“My main target is to keep a good attitude, work hard on the bike, and ride as well as I can.”

“If I can finish in the top three in the world and make this the best year of my career, that is what I will try to do. I am excited to see if we can achieve it.”

With much of the grid entering the season short on preparation, consistency and experience could become decisive factors. For Alex Lowes, WorldSBK 2026 represents an opportunity to convert his longevity into competitive advantage as the championship prepares to get underway.