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Bassani and Lowes Deliver Season-Best Results for Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team at Assen
Axel Bassani secured a season-best fifth-place finish in Race Two at the Assen round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, marking the strongest individual race result to date for the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team and the debut season of the KB4 Rimini. Teammate Alex Lowes also delivered his best performance of the year with a hard-fought sixth place in the same race.
After two days of clear skies, Sunday, April 13th brought rain and low clouds to the TT Circuit Assen, resulting in a wet—though drying—track surface for the ten-lap Superpole Race, which began at 11:00 a.m. local time. In challenging conditions, Lowes finished 11th and Bassani 12th, gaining valuable wet-weather experience aboard the KB4 Rimini, though neither rider added points to their championship tally in that race.
The weather cleared in time for Race Two, and both riders took full advantage of the dry conditions over the 21-lap contest.
Bassani, eighth after the opening lap, mounted an impressive charge. Mid-race, he passed reigning World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and continued to push, gaining another position in the closing laps to secure a confident and solitary fifth place. He crossed the line just 7.380 seconds behind race winner Andrea Locatelli.
Lowes also showed strong pace, climbing from 12th on the grid after being held up early in the race. In a tight multi-rider battle during the final laps, he emerged ahead to finish sixth—his best result of the season, improving on his previous high of seventh in the Superpole Race at Phillip Island.
After three rounds and nine individual races, Bassani sits ninth in the championship standings with 41 points, tied with the rider in eighth. Lowes holds 14th place with 34 points.
The WorldSBK paddock now heads into a short break before Round Four at the Cremona Circuit in Italy, a relatively new addition to the calendar, scheduled for May 2–4.
Alex Lowes:
“The second Sunday race was good. Starting further back wasn’t easy, and I got a bit blocked in the first ten laps. I knew I could go faster, so I focused on being smooth and managing the race. In the end, I passed a couple of guys, which felt good. There’s still work to do, but well done to Axel and his crew. Getting both bikes in the top six after a tough weekend is a solid way to finish. On to the next one.”
Axel Bassani:
“After yesterday’s mistake trying too hard for P5, I told myself today it was better to aim for P6 or P7—especially for the team. I focused on staying with the front group, and the feeling with the bike improved a lot. The wet race this morning wasn’t great—it was our first in those conditions—but Race Two was much better. Overtaking Toprak wasn’t easy, but when he made a small mistake in Turn 9, I took the chance and got through.”
