The first six rounds of the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) and Bimota’s KB998 have seen strong performances, with podium finishes and front-row starts in the Production Derivative Championship. Axel Bassani is feeling optimistic about how the bike will perform on the new circuit as they head into the UK WorldSBK round this weekend.
Bassani secured a front-row start with the KB998 at Misano about a month ago, but he remains uncertain about what to expect at the seventh round of the 2025 World Superbike Championship at Donington. “Typically, every track we tackle with Bimota is new to us,” he said. “So, we’ll just have to see.”
He added, “I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. I just want to ride the track and see where we stand. Whether we finish 10th or get P3, we’ll take it as it comes.” Despite some criticism of the final sector, Bassani enjoys the track overall. “It’s a great track,” he explained. “I really like the first section. The last two corners are a bit tight for my taste, but the first part and the back section are fast and physically demanding because you have to make quick direction changes at high speeds. It’s important to conserve energy, but generally, I like the track.”
For Bassani’s teammate Alex Lowes, the weekend represents a chance to manage expectations during his home race. “It’s always special to race at home because I live nearby and have family and friends supporting me,” he told worldsbk.com.
Lowes reflected on their recent performance: “Last weekend was probably our best in terms of competition. We need to be cautious about expecting too much, but if we maintain the feelings we had in the final race, we can do well.” He also believes the Bimota project, which only started six rounds ago, is progressing on schedule. “I hope we keep improving throughout the season,” he said. “It’s encouraging to see progress. My goal is to be on the podium every weekend.”
Lowes also noted that while last year’s race conditions were cooler, he feels the KB998 performs better in warmer weather, so the hot conditions this weekend shouldn’t be a disadvantage.
Fan Take: This update shines a light on the ambitious growth of Bimota in WorldSBK and highlights the promise of the KB998 bike as it adapts to new circuits. For racing fans, it’s exciting to witness a rising contender challenging established teams, which could shake up the competition and bring fresh energy to the sport.
