Bimota evolving: the Jerez test lays the groundwork for a leading role in 2026

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 at 15:45

Alex Lowes Axel Bassani Bimota Superbike SBK Test Jerez

Some Superbike teams in action at Jerez for an end-of-season test: Bimota wants to leverage 2025 data to improve the package.

The 2025 Superbike World Championship has been over for more than a month now, but some teams have decided to head to Jerez for two days of testing to prepare for the 2026 season. On Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 November there will be some action on the track at the circuit named after the legendary Angel Nieto. Also running will be the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, which will field test rider Xavi Fores on day 1 and factory riders Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani on day 2. The weather forecast is favorable, so each team should be able to complete their planned program.

Bimota KB998 Rimini: a good Superbike debut

In the debut year of the KB998 Rimini, Bimota finished fourth in the SBK manufacturers’ standings, ahead of Honda and Kawasaki. Lowes finished sixth among the riders, with Bassani tenth. Not bad for a debut project. The British rider climbed the podium four times and finished in the top 10 a total of twenty-one times. In the second half of the season he showed clear growth and the results were positive, promising also with a view to 2026.

Axel, less experienced than his teammate in development and beyond, had a few more difficulties. But he is a fast rider and has already proven it in the Superbike World Championship; with a year of experience under his belt on the KB998 Rimini, he should make significant progress in 2026. His goal will be to fight consistently for the top six positions.

SBK test at Jerez, Lowes and Bassani ready for action

The two days of testing at Jerez will be based on the large amount of data collected during the 2025 SBK season. Lowes can’t wait to get back in the saddle: "I know we have some Showa components and also new ideas from my crew chief Pere, so that we can work on the areas where we had difficulties in 2025. Our goal before the winter break is to learn as much as possible about the areas we need to keep working on to improve the KB998 Rimini, so we’re ready for the start of 2026. Jerez is a circuit we know well, so it’s a good place to test the new components and confirm if they’re better. Hopefully the weather is acceptable and we can do lots of laps."

It will also be an important test for Bassani: "This will be the last test of 2025, so we’ll try to end with a good feeling and understand what to focus our development program on during the winter break. We’ll try to work with as little stress as possible. We’ll stay calm and try to concentrate on the difficult areas we encountered in the 2025 season."