Strong Top Five Rides From Bas...

bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team riders Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes posted strong Race One results in the first race at the Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’, with Axel fourth and Alex fifth.

Shortly after the announcement that both Alex and Axel will stay with the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team for the 2027 WorldSSBK season, each rider took part in a short FP3 session and then Superpole Qualifying on Saturday morning.

The official bimota KB998 Rimini riders showed positive intent in the Superpole qualifying session at the sun-kissed 4.226km long circuit in Italy.

Lowes put in his best ever lap at Misano, late in the session, to qualify third on the Race One grid, splitting a strong entry of Ducati riders in the process. Bassani finished up seventh in Superpole, and launched from the third row of the grid at the start of the first 21-lap race of the weekend.

Bassani started to move forward as the first few laps were completed and soon he was involved in a fight for fourth place with his own team-mate Lowes. Axel eased past Alex and took an eventual fourth place finish - which was realistically the best result he could take after the leading trio had made an early break away from their pursuers.

Soon after the start of the first race, Lowes was inside the top five places, and after a controlled performance in very hot ambient and track conditions, he would finish fifth overall, despite losing some front grip under braking and corner entry as the race progressed.

On Sunday, a short morning warm-up session, a ten-lap Superpole Race, and ultimately a full-distance Race Two will conclude the on-track action at Misano.

Hot conditions are once more forecast for the Misano area on Sunday, continuing a trend already heavily in evidence at this modern classic circuit near the Adriatic Coast of Italy.

Alex Lowes, stated: “Superpole was great today. We made quite a big change on the bike after Friday, and this morning in FP3 and Superpole, we felt good. When the temperature got up in the afternoon for the race, I was not able to brake like I expected. That made the race quite difficult. I was able to be consistent and finish in the top five. Axel passed me; I tried to battle a bit, but I was in trouble really with the front. He was faster than me in the race, and I am not sure if the changes we made, in these hot conditions, were in the right way. We have information from today, so I think we can improve a bit for tomorrow. To qualify on the front row and finish inside the top five; it was a good day’s work.”

Axel Bassani, stated: “In Superpole Qualifying, I was not able to put all the sectors together. I made some mistakes, but in the end, I was happy because P7 was a good position to start. The first race was really long, and Misano is always a hard race for the body and the mind. In the end, I think we did a really good job. On the first lap, it was difficult to find my pace to overtake some riders. After that, we also had a good battle with Alex, with a lot of respect, like always. I think we did a really good job today for bimota, so I am very happy and really proud about the work we are doing with the team. I want to continue like this. For me, it is special to race here because it is my home round. But every race is important, at the same level, during the season.”