It’s the other Lowes... Alex on why he’s WSB’s ‘dark horse’
30-year-old Brit says he’s here to win, not ride shotgun for Rea
While much of the hype for new World Superbike contenders and the potential 2021 champion hints at exotic names like Razgatlioglu, Rinaldi or Gerloff, perhaps we should be looking a little closer to home. After overcoming a shoulder injury, factory Kawasaki man Alex Lowes insists his job is far more than a supporting role to Jonathan Rea.
In a stunning start to 2020, Lowes beat World Champion teammate Rea in Australia to lead the title race. As he admits, the rest of the season was somewhat lacklustre. Ever the fighter and now calmer and more mature than ever, 30-year-old Lowes sounds confident – notwithstanding a nasty accident last month as he explains to MCN.
First and foremost, how’s your shoulder? What happened?
It was Saturday, February 6. I was training on the dirt track at Rocco’s Ranch, next to the Barcelona Circuit. It was a slow crash but I fell on, and separated, my right shoulder, plus ligament damage. My arm was completely immobilised for three weeks; since that, I’ve focused on rebuilding muscle. Kawasaki have been fantastic; they put on a test in Jerez for me. We’re so limited on test days due to new rules so I’ve not missed out. The shoulder was a bit tired but we have two months before racing. I’m the dark horse!
What’s your outlook on life?
In racing, you have a lot of tough times so you learn to enjoy the good times. That helps for life in general. We’re lucky to do what we do. You can’t moan that you have to stay at home when you have a nice house and garden. We’re very fortunate.
How did the first tests go with the 2021 bike?
Old shoes always feel better to start with. You must be careful not to stick with old components just because you’re used to them. The important thing with a new bike is to pick a plan of how we want it to feel, know how my strengths suit it and develop in that way. You have to commit to a direction – and stick to it.
What are the Kawasaki’s strengths and weaknesses?
It’s good on the brakes and very stable on corner exit, but it doesn’t turn so well. I was reverting back to how I’d ridden the Yamaha, using corner speed and lean angle – that’s not the best way to ride the Kawasaki.
How ‘new’ is the new Kawasaki? It’s more an evolution of last year’s bike. It looks quite different because of the new front fairing. There’s also a new swingarm: a ‘new’ old swingarm which Kawasaki tried in the past. When I first used it in November, I felt a lot better. It gives me lots more confidence on the edge of the tyre. We also have a couple of big steps with electronics, more towards what Johnny uses, and
I’ve found something on corner entry – the last part of stopping. The new engine character is a bit harder on corner exit, but the bike stops better, which suits me.
To make the Kawasaki work, do you have to ride like Rea?
Not completely. Jonathan does great things on the bike; you don’t win six World Championships for nothing. I think last year was his most difficult because he didn’t have the speed advantage he had in other years. It was impressive to watch how he managed races in which he looked like he was struggling; he’d still get a good result but Toprak, Scott and I couldn’t always do that.
Sticking on the subject of Jonathan Rea: are you allowed to beat him?
Yes. I’m racing for myself. I’m certainly not here just to support Johnny; if that was the case, I might as well stay at home. Last year he beat me because he rode better. I beat him at Phillip Island and one race in Jerez, but after that I didn’t do very well. Simple as that. If I don’t beat him, it’s not because Kawasaki want me behind – it’s because he’s done a better job. There’s no obligation to finish behind Johnny Rea.
How do you rate the competition?
Ducati arguably has the best and fastest bike. The Yamaha is easy to ride but harder to extract that last edge. At Honda, it’s brilliant Leon Camier has become team manager; he was one of the most underrated riders ever in World Superbike.
What does Alex Lowes need to do differently?
I need to make my bad weekends better, like I did with Yamaha in 2019. If you make your bad result fifth (and not ninth like in 2020), that’s key. I’ll be fast enough to win races and challenge for podiums on different tracks. I’ve always been fast on a superbike but I need to win for Kawasaki and challenge every weekend.
Winning consistently isn’t as easy anymore...
True. Last year, I rode well in some races but finished ninth! Back in 2015, I sometimes finished fifth on an average Suzuki. You wouldn’t be able to do that now. World Superbike now has proper depth: great bikes ridden by great riders. We haven’t seen anything like this for a long time. This year is going to be very exciting.
‘There is real depth in WSB this year’ ALEX LOWES, KAWASAKI