Alex Legal guidelines wasn’t fully positive concerning the transfer from Kawasaki to Bimotor at first, he says.
After dropping Jonathan Rea to Yamaha on the finish of 2023, Kawasaki determined to reintroduce Bimota to WorldSBK in 2025, deciding that not solely was its ZX-10RR now not a software able to competing on the forefront in a production-derived collection, however Kawasaki’s multi-purpose sportbike was now not the philosophy to comply with.
Because of this, the extra track-focused Bimota KB998 was developed, that includes a brand new aerodynamic package deal and a chassis designed by the Italian model. It is going to be prepared to interchange the ZX10-RR in 2025.
Nevertheless, 2024 was one in all Lowes’ finest seasons in World Superbike, with seven podiums, two race wins and a fourth place end within the rider standings.
That meant it was tough for Lowe’s to keep away from considerations about Bimota about ranging from scratch on an unproven bike after proving he might be a daily on the rostrum on the Kawasaki he rode for 5 seasons.
“Sure, that’s mainly what occurred,” Alex Legal guidelines instructed Crash.web in an interview on Bike Reside.
“I feel 2024 was one in all my finest years. I used to be fourth within the championship, however I used to be on the rostrum 12 or 13 occasions and was quick kind of in every single place.
“The bike did not change a lot, however I used to be capable of get much more out of the bike’s efficiency. It was quite a lot of enjoyable, so I am clearly nervous to alter from there.
“We do not actually like change as a result of riders panic when they’re now not aggressive.
“However alternatively, it was additionally very rewarding to be a part of the mission from the start and see it begin to take off.
“I feel it took me a short time to adapt.
“Final yr I cherished inexperienced and I actually preferred the colour. That does not imply something, however 2024 was enjoyable!”
Though Lawes was proud of 2025 general, he was dissatisfied with one race specifically, the Portugal spherical.
“I feel it has been a extremely good yr other than two races,” Legal guidelines stated.
“I’m not too pissed off about Donington as a result of I felt actually good that weekend, I attempted too laborious however I used to be fairly assured after which I made a mistake in my dwelling race after which I acquired injured so I couldn’t experience on Sunday.
“However I used to be disillusioned in Portimao. There was a yellow flag in qualifying and I went from fourth to final on the grid, however I could not cope properly.”
He defined: “We have been a bit disillusioned at Phillip Island final yr, so within the second race at Portimao the bike felt fairly good and searching again at the moment we have been nearly proving the mission successful.
“So as an alternative of simply accepting that it should be a tricky weekend after qualifying, I have been desirous about having a superb weekend from the again of the grid. So I crashed within the first race the place I acquired all the way in which as much as eighth, then within the subsequent Tremendous Pole race it was tough to get by means of with 10 laps to go, after which I crashed once more within the final race.
“So other than these two races it was a superb yr, however Portimao was not good.
“From Hungary, I did properly general within the second half of the yr, ending within the prime six in each race, particularly the longer ones. I feel it was a strong effort for my first yr on the bike.”
If Donington hadn’t crashed in race one, it might have been the spotlight of Lowe’s season. In reality, his triple podium at Magny-Cours earned him that title, a end result that got here as Lowes grew to become extra comfy on the KB998 after the perfect season of his profession on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR in 2024.
“I feel we felt good within the second half (of 2025),” he stated.
“You simply should experience the bike a bit bit extra. Smoother, I imply, that is not the correct phrase, however if you push the bike in a sure manner, it will get softer. I perceive that much more now.”
“In case you experience a Kawasaki for 4 or 5 years, you may develop Kawasaki habits unconsciously, nearly subconsciously.
“So it took me some time to alter that, however now I’m actually having fun with this bike. It’s enjoyable to experience. I have to preserve working to enhance my efficiency much more.”
If there’s one space the place Bimotor clearly wants enchancment when it comes to efficiency, it is within the straight line. The mix of the Kawasaki engine and the comparatively radical aerodynamics of the KB998 in comparison with these of the ZX10-RR (which, it must be famous, has a brand new fairing for 2026), makes WorldSBK’s newest bike one of many slowest bikes within the 2025 velocity lure.
However with out dramatic adjustments to the manufacturing engine, there’s little a race crew can do to handle the bike’s horsepower deficit in comparison with bikes from Honda, BMW, Ducati and others.
However Legal guidelines stated the crew was not with out concepts on learn how to enhance the bike’s efficiency in its second season.
“As at all times, we will enhance in lots of areas,” he stated. “I experience a motorcycle, and my bike has a little bit of electronics on its chassis.
“You possibly can’t make too many adjustments all year long (…). The principles permit for one or two upgrades.
“So after the final race we had some concepts about the place we have been struggling and have been seeking to take some steps from there.
“From the engine facet, it is a work in progress. Clearly, it is a production-based championship so there’s solely a lot you are able to do, however we’ll attempt to take child steps in every single place. We’re not miles away.”
“After all, if we return on the identical path, we shall be in a stronger place.
“Different persons are clearly enhancing, so it’s by no means going to get simpler, however I hope we will make some progress.”
BSB “Recommendation”
FS-3 When the BSB crew introduced in the direction of the tip of the 2025 season that it could be changing its ZX-10RR with two KB998s for the 2026 season, the announcement was accompanied by the knowledge that the crew could be working with the WorldSBK crew subsequent yr to assist develop the mission, and that Lowe’s was one hyperlink in that chain, thanks partly to FS-3 chief engineer Ian Prestwood’s earlier work on the win. Gained the BSB title in 2013.
Talking on Bike Reside, Rose stated his function on this regard was “simply giving recommendation”, however stated he thought the Bimota could be an acceptable bike for the British Championship observe.
“It doesn’t actually assist a lot, it simply provides recommendation,” he stated.
“I feel will probably be a superb bike and a superb chassis for BSB vans.
“I feel it’s nice for the crew to have among the youthful riders (Max Cooke, Joe Talbot) hungry on the bike. I feel the extra my job as a Bimotor rider is to develop the model, develop the mission and get individuals to see the bike, the higher as a result of I feel it’s a terrific bike and I would like them to get pleasure from it as a lot as I do.”
