Sam Lowes could become the latest British rider to make a switch to the WorldSBK Championship next season amid rumours the Marc VDS Racing team is considering an entry.

The Belgian outfit currently competes in Moto2, where it holds the lead in the riders’ standings with Tony Arbolino, while Lowes has contributed to its three wins in five races so far.

However, paddock speculation during the recent WorldSBK round at Misano is pointing towards the team adding the production-based series to its roster, with Speedweek reporting team boss Marina Rossi has held talks with Paolo Ciabatti about securing a customer supply of its championship leading Ducati Panigale V4 R.

When approached by BSN, Lowes says he has an option to remain with Marc VDS into 2024, but added it is to remain in Moto2 for now.

The Englishman has shown arguably the strongest form of his long Moto2 career at times this season, Lowes scoring a dominant tenth career victory in Jerez in May, before following it up with back-to-back pole positions at Le Mans.

Now in his tenth season of Moto2, five of which have been with Marc VDS, Lowes - with 140 intermediate class starts to his name - is the most experienced rider on the Moto2 grid, but is understood to be considering options for the future.

As such, branching out into WorldSBK could be a fruitful alternative route for both Lowes and Marc VDS, not least if it can secure a Ducati supply, while it would see Sam potentially sharing the grid with twin brother Alex, who has raced in the series since 2014.

Should such a move go ahead then it would mark a return to the WorldSBK paddock for Lowes, who competed in the WorldSSP Championship from 2011-2013, winning the title in the latter with the Russian-based Yakhnich Yamaha squad

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