Official: Lowes exits Yamaha
One of the paddock’s worst-kept secrets became official on Sunday night when Yamaha confirmed Brit Alex Lowes is to leave the team at the end of 2019. It’s widely believed the Brno 2018 winner is to partner Jonathan Rea at Kawasaki next year, while his Yamaha seat will be taken by Toprak Razgatlioglu. Yamaha’s statement came just hours after Lowes came third in a double Pata Yamaha podium with second-placed team-mate Michael van der Mark, the latter racking up two rostrums on Sunday. “Yamaha Motor Europe (YME) wishes to formally announce it will part company with Alex Lowes after the final round of the 2019 FIM Superbike world championship season in Qatar,” read the released communique, highlighting their 106 races and 15 podiums as well as three successive Suzuka 8-Hour wins.
“It was our sincere hope that he (Lowes) would remain within the Yamaha family,” YME President Eric de Seynes said.
“We knew there was a risk and, unfortunately, that risk has turned out to be real and Alex will not be on a Yamaha next season. Working with Alex these past four years has been a real pleasure for me and on behalf of both Yamaha and myself I wish Alex every success for the future.” Elsewhere in the Yamaha ranks, the Ten Kate squad is expected to retain Loris Baz although the team is also in talks with Xavi Fores and American Garrett Gerloff was also in France pushing for the ride with backing from Yamaha USA. The GRT squad, meanwhile, is believed to have signedup Supersport’s Federico Caricasulo in Portugal – although question marks have since emerged over the team’s plans for 2020.
‘It’s believed he is to partner Rea in the Kawasaki team next year’