Imagine preparing for the most important race of your life, only to be sidelined by relentless rain. That's exactly what happened to Alex Lowes at the recent Jerez World Superbike test, leaving him feeling like a kid with a new toy he couldn't fully play with. But here's where it gets frustrating...
The 2026 World Superbike season is rapidly approaching, with the opening round just a month away. The pressure is on, and every moment on the track counts. This week's test at Jerez was crucial for teams to fine-tune their machines and gather valuable data.
However, the two-day test, held on Wednesday and Thursday, was plagued by terrible weather conditions. This severely limited track time for nearly all the riders in attendance, throwing a wrench into their carefully laid plans. Think of it like preparing for a marathon, but only being able to jog around the block a few times.
Despite the unfavorable conditions, Bimota's Alex Lowes managed to clock the second-fastest time on Thursday. This is particularly significant as he embarks on his second season riding for Bimota, and every bit of data gained is crucial for developing the bike and building confidence. But this is the part most people miss... a fast lap time in limited running doesn't necessarily translate to race pace or provide enough information to make meaningful changes.
Lowes managed a mere 16 laps on slick tires when the weather finally cooperated on the final day. This was barely enough time to briefly test some new front forks. "Yeah, unfortunately, it’s been a lot of bad weather," Lowes stated on the official World Superbike website, clearly expressing his disappointment. "Today in the afternoon, we finally got on track with the slick tyres on. After waiting around all week, it was mega to get out. I was like a big kid."
He elaborated on his frustration: "I still really, really enjoyed it. Apart from that, to really start getting to work, we didn’t have enough laps. I think I did only 16 laps. So, it wasn’t enough laps to really start focusing on the new parts. So, nice to get out, but a little bit frustrating that we couldn’t get more work done."
Lowes further explained his limited testing of the new Showa front forks: "Just started to try some new front forks from Showa in this run, but I arrived at Turn 6, and it was raining. I got a few laps, a first feeling, but not really one where I could decide if it was better or worse." In essence, he got a fleeting glimpse of their potential, but not enough to form a solid conclusion.
He also touched on the ongoing development of electronics in World Superbikes: "The electronics is a constant evolution in World Superbikes. So, trying some things on the electronics that felt quite good. I picked up the feeling I had in November straight away." This highlights the continuous refinement and optimization that goes on behind the scenes, even during limited testing sessions.
World Superbike testing is set to continue next week at Portimao, and Lowes is hopeful that the weather will be more cooperative, allowing for more productive track time. "We hope for better weather in Portimao to confirm the components we want to use at Philip Island," he noted, emphasizing the importance of validating these components under realistic conditions.
"If it’s good weather, we’ll try to do a lot more laps. We’ll work on my feelings with the bike; we've changed it a lot since we were last here [at Jerez], and since the test here in November. My feeling has been really good with the new bike, but I’ve only tested it at this new track, so I need to try the new setup at a new track, it would be fantastic if I could keep the same feeling but that’s not how it works..." He added a touch of realism, acknowledging that adapting to different tracks is a key challenge.
He concluded: "...if it’s wet both days in Portimao, I’ll ride in the rain. In general, didn’t get too many laps in, but I’m really happy to be back to work with the team. Let’s see what happens next week.” Despite the setbacks, Lowes remains optimistic and eager to get back on track.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some might argue that even limited testing is better than no testing at all and that Lowes should be grateful for the opportunity. Others might say that the lack of track time puts him and the Bimota team at a significant disadvantage compared to teams that had more favorable conditions.
What do you think? Was Lowes's frustration justified, or is it simply part of the game in motorsports? Does limited testing provide any real benefit, or is it mostly a waste of time and resources? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
