Alex Lowes and Yamaha part ways
Yamaha Motor Europe have announced that they will part company with Alex Lowes after the final round of the 2019 FIM Superbike World Championship season in Qatar, with the rider not offered the same role into 2020.
Lowes has been part of Yamaha’s WorldSBK program since the Japanese manufacturer returned to the premier production racing series in 2016. In a partnership that has spanned four seasons, Lowes and Yamaha have completed 106 races, in which Lowes finished on the podium on 15 occasions.
The highlight of Lowes’ time with Yamaha undoubtedly came in 2018 at Brno in the Czech Republic, when the Briton got the better of his teammate in a closely-contested Race 2 to take his first WorldSBK race win.
But the successful partnership between Yamaha and Lowes extended further than just the WorldSBK paddock. The 29-year-old was also a key member of the Yamaha Factory Racing Team that took three consecutive victories at the prestigious 8 Hours of Suzuka, only missing out on an unprecedented fourth win this year by the narrowest of margins.
Yamaha Motor Europe thanked Alex Lowes for his significant contribution to their racing achievements and wished him every success for the future, with the President of Yamaha Motor Europe Eric de Seynes thanking Lowes.
Eric de Seynes – President, Yamaha Motor Europe
“I would like to start by saying thank you to Alex, not just for the success we have enjoyed together in WorldSBK and at Suzuka, but also for his commitment to Yamaha and our Superbike project, which he has been an integral part of from the beginning. It was a difficult decision not to continue with Alex in the same role for the 2020 season but it was also our sincere hope that he would remain within the Yamaha family. We knew there was a risk and, unfortunately, that risk has turned out to be real and Alex will not be on a Yamaha next season. Working with Alex these past four years has been a real pleasure for me and on behalf of both Yamaha and myself I wish Alex every success for the future.”
Source: MCNews.com.au