Alex Lowes ‘impresses’ on Kawasaki WorldSBK test debut

Alex Lowes has been given the seal of approval from his new Kawasaki Racing Team crew chief Marcel Dunkiers as the Briton made his much-anticipated test debut on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR in Spain.

After seven years as a Crescent Racing rider, initially with Suzuki before spending five seasons riding Yamaha machinery, Lowes switches to the title-winning KRT team for the 2020 WorldSBK Championship alongside Jonathan Rea.

Throwing his leg over the ZX-10RR for the first time at Motorland Aragon, Lowes built up his pace over two days of rain-affected running, turning in the third quickest time – ahead of the Yamahas – on the second day.

Pronouncing himself happy with his first impressions of the Kawasaki, Lowes says the ZX-10RR allows him to ride ‘more naturally’ than the R1.

“It was a good test and great to get out on the bike. With the weather conditions we got one full day out of two days on track, but today was good. I am adapting to the bike really well and, more importantly, adapting to the team really well.

“They understand my comments and going forward that will be a big help to improve the bike set-up. I really enjoyed the bike and I feel that is a more natural way to ride for me. It was really positive and I am really happy to have started the next chapter with the KRT team. I am really happy and a big thank you to all the team for welcoming me at the first test.”

Alex Lowes gathers speed on Kawasaki ZX-10RR debut

Though countryman Scott Redding snatched the headlines with his debut over at Ducati, Alex Lowes enjoyed a strong start to life as a Kawasaki rider, earning himself praise from Dunkiers, the mastermind behind Tom Sykes’ 2013 WorldSBK title win.

Describing his feedback as ‘to the point’, it serves to prove one of the key reasons Kawasaki has hired Lowes in the first place, his keen development ability and consistency.

“This test was a very nice experience,” Dunkiers said. “Of course, the weather took away 50 per cent of our track time but everybody is smiling, so this shows that everything was positive. I am impressed by the way Alex is building up his speed.

“He is able to give us very clear and to the point feedback. This is the way we need to work so that was very nice. He was able to go into the 1’50s fairly easily today. We are fully on schedule. He used a Q tyre to give Alex the first impression of what it does with this bike, just for information for the future.

“He understands how to extract more from it already. I am a happy man and that was a very pleasant first test with Alex.”