Yamaha looks to the future in SBK: Sam Lowes a possible contender

Yamaha looks to the future in SBK: Sam Lowes a possible contender

The Brit is being courted by team Pata Yamaha Prometeon, a move that would bring him back to the paddock where he won in Supersport

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24.05.2023 ( Aggiornata il 24.05.2023 17:28 )

Toprak Razgatlioglu will leave Yamaha for BMW at the end of the year and so the big question is – who will replace the Turk on the blue factory team? Having confirmed that negotiations with Johann Zarco are underway, we now learn that there's another rider in the mix, a certain Sam Lowes. Might he be set to leave Moto2 to debut in SBK?

Yamaha and Lowes, a very plausible, all-English scenario

Yes, you read us right - Sam Lowes is being considered by Yamaha, not brother Alex. Alex already competed for Yamaha in SBK, from 2016 to 2019, and now it could be the turn of twin brother Sam. The latter is currently racing with team Marc VDS in Moto2, a squad with whom he celebrated a race win at Jerez.

And so it’s clear that Lowes – Sam – is still a strong contender in the world championship paddock, but might an important call be enough to induce a change of direction, back to the championship where he made his world debut back in 2009, with Honda in Supersport. He was a full-time entry with Yamaha from 2011 to 2013, and claimed the world title aboard the R6 in that final year.

Then came the move to something completely different, the "prototype" middle class, in which he has competed since 2014 (aside from a brief MotoGP showing with Aprilia in 2017). The Lincolnshire native is an experienced rider who has also become a good test rider. And the team headed up by Paul Denning is opening its doors to him in the production-derived class.

Lowes plus Lowes, back together in SBK

Very pleased with Andrea Locatelli – a new two-year agreement already announced – Yamaha is now seriously considering Sam Lowes. Aside from his impressive CV, Sam is an Englishman, as is Paul Denning, manager of the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK team.

Although this might look to be an insignificant detail, it’s not. The rider’s caliber, age – he’ll turn 33 on 14 September – and desire for a change of air all lie in his favour, as does the nationality of a team keen to close the Razgatlioglu chapter, one that has in fact been closed by Toprak.

Take our word for it - Sam Lowes is a possible contender for the vacant M1. Try to imagine it – Lowes against Lowes, or rather Alex. Right now, Alex finds himself negotiating with Kawasaki – will he stay or will he go? We think he’ll stay put in SBK and line up against his identical twin, recreating the battles of their youth.

But the real question is, considering both race with number 22, who will get to keep the much-coveted plate?

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