Sam Lowes Targets Ducati Duo After Assen WorldSBK 2026

WorldSBK, Sportrik Media - Sam Lowes and Marc VDS Racing Team emerged as the closest challenger to the dominant Ducati pairing at the 2026 Dutch WorldSBK round in Assen.

Lowes secured three podium finishes across the weekend, marking a career-first achievement in World Superbike, while Ducati maintained overall control of the event. The British rider was beaten only by factory Ducati riders Nicolo Bulega and Iker Lecuona, and established himself as a clear step ahead of other satellite Ducati entries as well as factory riders from rival manufacturers.

He acknowledged that Bulega and Lecuona still held a performance advantage, but expressed satisfaction at being closer to them than other contenders, including Alvaro Bautista, who finished fourth in all three races.

Baca JugaSam Lowes Soroti Duel Ducati di WorldSBK Assen 2026

“I think Bulega had quite a step, and Iker a little bit less. I’m happy to be fighting with them because everyone knows they are the reference right now, both in terms of bike and team,” Lowes told WorldSBK.com.

“I’m also pleased because I was the only one able to stay close and battle with them, and I even qualified ahead of one of them.”

Lowes highlighted that a measured and consistent race approach was key to his performance, particularly in ensuring a strong result in the final race after already securing two podiums earlier in the weekend.

“I was cautious and focused on finishing the weekend with another solid race. When you’ve had two good races, it’s important to end it well,” he added.

He also stressed that his Assen performance reflects a broader positive trend in the 2026 season rather than a one-off result. Aside from a crash in wet conditions at Phillip Island, Lowes has delivered consistent finishes across the opening rounds.

“The last six races have been good. The only real mistake was in Phillip Island in the rain, which can happen. In all the other races, I’ve finished, and that puts us in a strong position,” he explained.

Lowes noted that the harder tyre allocation used at Assen compared to last season appeared to favour Ducati, potentially exaggerating the performance gap. However, he expects the competitive balance to vary at different circuits.

“I think the harder tyres this weekend helped Ducati and maybe made the gap look bigger than it is. At other tracks, it could be different,” he said.

In terms of closing the gap to the factory Ducati riders, Lowes admitted there is still room for improvement in his riding style, particularly in adapting fully from his Moto2 background.

“I’m studying what they are doing and trying to improve certain areas. I still need to make a step in my riding because in some parts I’m still riding it a bit like Moto2,” he concluded.

With consistent results and relatively small margins separating him from the front, Lowes remains optimistic about further progress. The focus now shifts to refining performance from Friday sessions onward as he looks to challenge the leading Ducati riders more closely in the upcoming WorldSBK rounds.