Feature Story
WorldSBK Completes Crucial Two-Day Test at Misano
WorldSBK Completes Important In-Season Test
The Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’ hosted a vital two-day test for the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team (BbKRT) and Kawasaki WorldSBK Team on May 27–28, offering a key in-season opportunity ahead of the sixth round of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship, which will also be held at the iconic Italian venue in mid-June.
Following the completion of the first five rounds of the season, the Misano sessions served multiple purposes for BbKRT. With the KB998 Rimini machine making its debut in WorldSBK this year, the test allowed the team to continue developing the bike in collaboration with its full-time riders, Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani.
For the Kawasaki WorldSBK Team, this test was a significant one as Garrett Gerloff is riding his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR in WorldSBK for the first time this season, despite having many previous years of experience in the championship itself. The American rider and his technical crew continued to work on finding the best possible machine set-up to take from round-to-round. Testing days are strictly limited under WorldSBK regulations, which made these two full days of testing an invaluable experience.
Many championship rivals for both teams were also present at the test, providing a valuable benchmark of the teams' current performance level on the 4.226km circuit near the Adriatic coast.
In the overall Misano testing timesheets, across two days and four individual track sessions, Gerloff was ranked 15th, with his best lap of 1:33.510 being set on the final afternoon.
Bassani had the second-fastest lap time on the first day, and he set a personal best of 1:32.798 on the second day. Overall, he sat third after the test and completed 157 laps around what is both his and bimota’s home circuit.
Lowes initially concentrated on machine improvements and test items and then set a best lap of 1:33.265, putting him 11th overall and setting a grand total of 189 laps across the two days.
Crucially, the teams were able to fine-tune the machine setup ahead of the Misano race weekend, scheduled for June 13–15. This round carries added significance for BbKRT, as it effectively serves as a home race for the Rimini-based bimota brand.
Alex Lowes
“We tried a lot of things on the bike and did about 110 laps on day two. So we have been working hard. We tried some things that were good, some things that were not so good and we also tried a qualifying tire during my best lap. That was a 1:33.2, which was not too bad. We have not quite got the feeling we need so I have to put everything together now for race weekend. It is difficult sometimes to get the rhythm, so we need to analyze the data and make a step forward for race weekend. I feel like in certain parts of the track I need a couple of tenths but in other parts I am quite strong and consistent. The guys have worked really hard and I have enjoyed riding here at Misano.”
Axel Bassani
"It has been a good two days of testing. We tried some items to understand which way we should take for race weekend. It was also good because it was hot during the test and I think it will be really hot during race weekend. Usually, it is more difficult for us when the temperature is high. The race pace was not so bad in the final afternoon and we also tried to focus on the one lap time attack, which is usually my problem. The feeling was not bad. We are not really, really fast but at the same time we are not slow. So, I think we will start from a positive point to have a good race weekend at Misano."
Garrett Gerloff
"Our work with the race tire allowed us to find great pace, which will be key for the upcoming Misano round. I’m still struggling in some areas and there are still aspects of the bike to improve, but the last two days have shown us that we’re on the right path and need to continue to work and focus, just as we’ve been doing. I can’t wait to race in front of our home crowd and our sponsors."
