Kawasaki without Alex Lowes for upcoming Portimao test

Kawasaki Racing Team will be led by six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea this week as preparations ramp up ahead of the 2021 season with a two day test at Portimao.

Robert Jones

02 Mar 2021

Jonathan Rea on the new Kawasaki ZX10RR, WorldSBK Jerez test 17th November 2020 — Jonathan Rea on the new Kawasaki ZX10RR, WorldSBK Jerez test 17th November…
© Gold and Goose

Reigning World Superbike champions Kawasaki will be on track without Alex Lowes for the upcoming Portimao test on March 4-5, as he continues his recovery from a recent training injury.

This means six-time champion Jonathan Rea will carry the workload at a circuit he has dominated in recent years. Rea has won twelve races at the Algarve International Circuit which includes eleven in his last twelve appearances.

Despite some difficult weather conditions at recent tests, this won't be the first outing for the new Ninja ZX-10RR racebike after Rea and Lowes tested the bike in February at Jerez.

The task of turning the 2021 ZX-10RR into another dominating WorldSBK spec machine is well advanced at this stage, but there are still evaluations and confirmations to be made for the team regarding certain areas of the bike.

Rea will certainly be hoping it's another winning machine as the Northern Irishman goes in search of title number seven, which would also be seven in a row along with claiming his 100th win in WorldSBK.

Speaking ahead of the test, Rea said: “It is really good to test again and I am excited to ride the bike - especially during these strange and unknown times.

"We have got some consistency going inside KRT since we tested in November, then again recently at Jerez. It is good to keep the rhythm going with the new Ninja ZX-10RR racebike before the start of season.

"We have already tested some new ideas with power characteristics from the engine although the weather conditions were not 100%.

"So, the main thing we have to do at this test is confirm things on the engine side and then fix our gearbox ratios. We aim to keep building speed and keep building confidence.”

Rea will be joined by Independent Kawasaki team, Orelac Racing VerdNatura and their new rider Isaac Vinales, but not his KRT team-mate Lowes.

The British rider goes into his second season with the team in 2021, and although he will not be riding at the test, Lowes is eager to get back on track.

“I am working hard on my recovery with the doctors in Barcelona. I want to see all the guys from the team and join them at the track as soon as possible. Of course, I cannot wait to ride my new Ninja ZX-10RR again.” said Lowes.