Sam Lowes will join his brother Alex on the grid for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship after Marc VDS Racing's much rumoured switch to the series from the Moto2 World Championship was officially confirmed.

The Belgian team will team with Ducati to run a satellite Panigale V4 R, bringing its Moto2 race winner Lowes with it at the same time.

A deal that has been mooted for some time, while the agreement will herald Lowes' debut in the WorldSBK class, it will still mark a return to the paddock more than ten years after clinching the 2013 WorldSSP Championship title with Yakhnich Yamaha.

Intriguingly, it will set up a fascinating head-to-head between Sam and his twin brother Alex, whom he'll be racing against on the international stage for the first time. Alex recently confirmed he will remain with the Kawasaki Racing Team for a fifth season next year.

Describing the deal as 'a great time to move across to WorldSBK', Lowes is excited by the prospect of a fresh challenge after ten seasons competing in the Grand Prix World Championship.

“I have a lot to learn with the new category including the bike, the tyres, and some new tracks. I am very motivated and excited for this opportunity. I am very open minded and ready to adapt and learn what I need to be competitive in WorldSBK.

"I always had a goal to race in World Superbike and after winning the World Supersport title in 2013 it was a normal step. But I chose to try the Grand Prix paddock. I’m happy and proud that I’ve had such a good Grand Prix career, and I’ve enjoyed it a lot.

"I feel now it’s a great time to move across to WorldSBK to try a different machine and learn how to ride a superbike. I also believe in myself and know I can achieve good things. It’s a privilege to ride for Marc VDS Racing Team and to make this step together is a great feeling, as I am sure it can be a strong and top team in WorldSBK as well.

"I am very grateful to Marc van der Straten for trusting me to start this new project. We have a great relationship; we have achieved some nice things together and we aim for many more!”

>>> 2023 WorldSBK Championship Standings <<<

Lowes' forthcoming WorldSBK endeavour comes after a decade spent competing in the Grand Prix World Championship.

Switching to Moto2 in 2014 after winning the WorldSSP title, Lowes has gone on to spend almost nine seasons in the intermediate class, five of which will have been spent with Marc VDS.

In that time he has amassed ten wins - his most recent coming this year at Jerez - plus 26 podiums and an overall best of third in the 2020 Moto2 standings.

Lowes also spent a season competing in the MotoGP World Championship with Aprilia Racing in 2017.