Sam Lowes: “I’m the only one battling” WorldSBK’s dominant duo

Sam Lowes took three podiums at the Dutch WorldSBK, a first for him in the championship, on a weekend where Ducati dominated but on which he was able to excel himself, he feels.

Lowes was beaten only by the two factory Ducati riders in all three World Superbike races at Assen on 18 and 19 April, the Marc VDS rider being a clear step ahead of the other satellite Ducatis as well as the factory riders from the other manufacturers.

He admitted afterwards that Nicolo Bulega and Iker Lecuona had “a step” on him, but he was happy to have been himself a step closer than the likes of Alvaro Bautista who was fourth in all three races.

“I think Bulega had quite a step, Iker [Lecuona] a little bit less,” Sam Lowes told WorldSBK.com after Race 2 in Assen.

“I’m happy to be fighting with them, everyone knows they’re the reference at the minute, bike-wise and team-wise. I’m really happy to be close. 

“The other Ducatis, obviously this weekend it was a good track for us, so we were all in the front, but I’m the only one that’s managed to be close and battling with them, also qualifying in front of one of them [Lecuona]. 

“So, really happy with that, I think I was cautious and happy to do a good race in the third one because when you’ve done two good races you want to finish the weekend off good to finish in a nice race. 

“A positive Sunday and I’m happy with the job we’ve done.”

Lowes added that the Assen weekend was not necessarily something out of the ordinary for him in 2026, the crash in Race 2 in Australia being the only major error he’s made through three rounds this season.

“The last six races have been good,” he said. “[I made] a mistake in Phillip Island in the rain, which can happen – a wet race, still important but it can happen more. 

“So, all the other races I’ve finished this year which puts us in a good position. 

“Last year didn’t finish as I wanted the last two rounds, so it’s been nice to hit the ground running already at round three with three podiums, and some good tracks for me coming up.

“So, massive credit to the team and Ducati have done a great job, the new bike is already really strong. Let’s see the next races, hopefully some other people [make it] a bit closer and we can enjoy some closer racing, but I need to focus and try to catch up with those two.”

Expanding on how he can close in on the two factory Ducatis, Lowes said there is margin in his riding: “I’m looking at what they’re doing, trying to improve a few things. I still need to make a step in my riding. I’m still riding it a bit Moto2-style in some parts of the track. 

“In Assen, luckily that works in two of the sectors, the other two I need to improve. 

“I think the harder tyre allocation this weekend compared to last season definitely helped Ducati, made the difference maybe look bigger than it was at other tracks. 

“So, maybe in other races it will be different. 

“I don’t know what other people need to do, but I need to just keep riding a bit better, do a better job on Friday just to be a bit closer and we’re not far off, we’re not talking massive margins, and that also gives you motivation for the next one.”