Alex Lowes says he is convinced the Kawasaki ZX-10RR package can still make a step forward in competitiveness despite a noticeable decline in performance and results during the 2023 WorldSBK Championship.

Once the dominant force of WorldSBK, Kawasaki’s ubiquitousness at the sharp end of the grid has waned since Jonathan Rea - winner of six WorldSBK titles between 2015 and 2020 - ceded his throne to Toprak Razgatlioglu in 2021.

Since then both Ducati and Yamaha have extended their advantages over Kawasaki in factory trim, the manufacturer achieving just a single win in 2023.

However, while Rea - who jumps ship to Yamaha for the 2024 WorldSBK season - has pointed towards the ZX-10RR’s ageing underpinnings to explain Kawasaki’s decline in competitiveness, former team-mate Lowes is convinced there is still more pace to be extracted from it.

“There is more to come from it,” Lowes told BSN. “I have been quicker than the results show, I was unlucky from the summer break and I was on the back foot. There is more to this from myself. Johnny was dragging a lot out of the bike consistently. 

“I can do better, there are not many bringing out new bikes and it is small details, improvements, changes in the rules. It is so close now, it doesn’t need to be a massive change to make it feel a lot better to feel more confident and it can make a big change in results. 

“I still think we will be in a strong position next year."

“Bassani can bring good experience from Ducati”

With Rea exiting, Lowes assumes status as Kawasaki’s most knowledgeable and experienced trusted hand.

However, he will face fresh competition from within courtesy of Axel Bassani, who succeeds Rea in the factory Kawasaki Racing Team.

A first works deal for the highly-rated Italian after three seasons riding the privateer Motocorsa Ducati, Lowes shrugs off suggestions of feeling pressured by Bassani’s arrival. Instead, he is curious to learn more about Bassani’s experience of the Panigale V4.

“I’m not really feeling pressure, I’ve been here four years already. 

“Axel has three years, he’s no rookie and he’s got three years on currently the fastest package so I think he can bring some good experience to us about what they are doing so well. 

“From my side, I always want to do the best, whether it is Axel or Johnny, so I don’t feel any extra pressure that he is arriving. 

“Things change, situations change and you have to make sure you use every one as a positive and come out as strong next year.”