“I believe I can be WorldSBK champion with Kawasaki” – Alex Lowes

Alex Lowes says is biggest motivating reason for joining Kawasaki in the WorldSBK Championship is because he wants to prove he can win the title by going toe-to-toe with team leader and five-time champion Jonathan Rea.

After five years competing with Yamaha, Lowes was dropped by the manufacturer for 2020 in favour of Toprak Razgatlioglu despite enjoying his strongest season yet in 2019 with a run to third overall, ahead of both the Turk and then team-mate Michael van der Mark.

Despite the axing, Lowes has nonetheless landed on his feet with a plum deal at KRT, title-winners with Rea for the past five seasons.

The relationship has already borne fruit with Lowes shining on his debut aboard the Kawasaki ZX-10RR at Phillip Island with a win – only his second in WorldSBK – and a brace of strong finishes earning him the early championship lead before the season was paused due to the coronavirus.

Indeed, though Lowes comes into the season as the number two rider to Rea’s inevitable team leader status, Lowes believes he has what it takes to win the world title and his best chance of doing that is by taking the fight to the Ulsterman on equal machinery.

“[The title is] my goal and my dream, and it’s one of the reasons I wanted to join the Kawasaki team,” he told Racer. “I wanted to go up against Jonathan on the same bike. I believe I can be World Champion. I still have a lot to learn and a lot to improve, but with these guys around, I know I can do it. 

“It’s going to be about being patient and understanding that it is still going to be my first year on the Kawasaki. The belief is there. The motivation is there. I’m just excited to get back and see the guys and get riding again, but right now we have to do the right thing and stay at home.”

Though some have questioned the relationship between Lowes and Rea after the pair were involved in a controversial coming together at Jerez last year – prompted when Rea’s last corner move resulted in Lowes crashing out metres from the chequered flag – the Briton insists they have a good rapport.

“I’ve always gotten on with Johnny well, and you don’t need to say anything about his results as he’s a guy to beat.

“The team is fantastic, and if Johnny and I get on, it makes it a lot easier and better for everybody, so the dynamics with the team have been really good. It’s been a lot of fun so far.”