“Two races” were not up to par for Alex Lowes in the 2025 WorldSBK season.

For Lowes, it was a first WorldSBK season on the Bimota KB998 and one that was ultimately positive, taking four podium finishes in the bike’s first year in the championship, including three at Magny-Cours.

However, there were two races that Lowes felt were not good enough from his own perspective, and, in particular, round two at Portimao, where he started last after losing his best lap in Superpole for yellow flags and crashed out of both long races.

“I think it was a really good year apart from two races,” Lowes said, speaking to Crash.net at Motorcycle Live.

“Donington I’m not as annoyed with because I felt really good that weekend, I was pushing too hard but I was quite confident, home race, made a mistake and then couldn’t ride the Sunday because I was injured. 

“But Portimao was a shame because I had the yellow flag in qualifying, so I went from fourth to last on the grid, and I didn’t handle that well.”

He explained: “Phillip Island was a bit of a disappointment after last year, so then second round at Portimao I felt quite good on the bike and I was trying to, let’s say, prove the project, almost, looking back then. 

“So, rather, than just accept that the weekend was going to be tough after qualifying, I’ve thought about having a good weekend from the back of the grid. So, the first race I got up to eighth, crashed; then the Superpole Race, hard to come through in 10 laps; and then the last race, crashing again. 

“So, those two rounds, if I take those out, it was a good year. But Portimao was not good.

“From Hungary, the whole second part of the year was good, especially long races: top-six every race. I think for the first year on the bike it was a solid effort.”

If Donington had been without the crash in Race 1, it might’ve been the highlight of Lowes’ season. In reality, his triple podium at Magny-Cours takes that title, those results coming as Lowes became more comfortable on the KB998 after having one of the best seasons of his career aboard the Kawasaki ZX-10RR in 2024.

“I’d say I was riding well in the second half of [2025],” he said.

“You just have to ride the bike a little bit– not smoother, that’s not the right word, but softer in certain ways you force the bike. I understand it a lot more now. 

“Four or five years on the Kawasaki, you get into habits of the Kawasaki without even realising, sort of subconscious. 

“So, that took some time to change, but now I’m really enjoying the bike, it’s a pleasure to ride, we just need to keep working for some more performance.”

Lowes’ and Bimota’s 2026 preseason already began with two post-season tests at Jerez in October and November.

The British rider says he was already working on some areas that had emerged as problematic during the season.

“Like always, we can improve in many areas,” he said. “Me riding the bike, for one – but electronics, a little bit with the chassis on the bike. 

“You can’t make too many changes during the year [....] – in the rules, you’re allowed one or two upgrades. 

“So, already after the last race, we had some ideas of where we were struggling, and trying to make some steps from that side. 

“From the engine side, work in progress. Obviously, it’s a production-based championship so you’re limited in what you can do, but we’ll try and make some small steps everywhere, we’re not miles away. 

“Of course, going back to the same tracks, we should be in a stronger position. 

“Other people are obviously improving as well, so it never gets easier, but hopefully we can make some steps forward.”