Alex Lowes: 'I know I can win', expects 2022 WorldSBK season to be a 'dogfight'

In what was the lone WorldSBK round before COVID-19 came into full effect, Alex Lowes claimed two podiums including a race two win at the 2020 season-opener at Phillip Island, results that were enough to see him lead the championship. 

However, Lowes is yet to win a WorldSBK race since, a stat that is quite significant since there have been 58 races during that time - Lowes has taken part in 51 of those. 

But despite a lack of recent success, a now fully healthy and raring to go Lowes, is convicned wins can take place in 2022. 

"That’s the aim," Lowes told WorldSBK.com. "In 2019 I finished third and then moved into Kawasaki with big expectations. 

"I was leading the championship after the first round before COVID hit, so there’s no question of the level I can be at. 

"But I’m not going to sit here and say ‘it’s a new season, I’m going to win, I feel amazing’; I’ve got too much experience for that. 

"I know I can win and if everything is right then I can be there every weekend. But I’m just going to enjoy it. 

"I’m in a fantastic place away from the track and I’m privileged to be part of the team."

In terms of which rider is the reference heading into the new campaign, many including team-mate Jonathan Rea have listed current world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu as the benchmark. 

But for Lowes, the former Pata Yamaha rider believes there’s no one better to measure himself against than a six-time world champion on identical machinery.

Lowes continued: "It’s quite easy for me - I have a guy who’s won six world championships on the other side of the box. 

"He’s not under pressure, but obviously expected to be winning races and I expect myself to be up there and challenging him as much as possible. 

"Wherever we stack up in the competition is going to be where we will be. I love a good dogfight and the races where I’ve won in Australia, it was six-seven people battling together and I love that. 

"If we can have that more often then I think it should play into my hands."