Feature Story
WorldSBK Series Hits Major Milestone at Balaton Park
BbKRT Prepares for a Historic WorldSBK Weekend in Hungary
The bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team riders, Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani, return to action this weekend aboard their high-performing KB998 WorldSBK machines for Round 8 of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship. The upcoming race at Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary will be one for the history books, as Sunday’s Tissot Superpole Race will mark the 1,000th race in WorldSBK history.
Held from July 25–27, the Balaton Park round is also notable for being WorldSBK’s first visit to Hungary since 1990, when the series last raced at the Hungaroring. Both BbKRT riders have previously ridden at the newly constructed 4.075km Balaton Park Circuit, but only on stock versions of the KB998. With this being the first time on full-spec WorldSBK machinery, Friday’s Free Practice sessions will be critical as the team dials in settings for the weekend ahead.
The BbKRT project has shown tremendous potential in its debut season, with on-track results now reflecting the team’s hard work and development. Alex Lowes took a front-row start and led laps in Race 1 at Donington Park before a crash at Craner Curves cut his charge short. Earlier, he secured a second-place finish in the Superpole Race at Misano. Meanwhile, Axel Bassani continues to show speed, with a fifth-place finish and a front-row start at Misano as his current season highlights.
Lowes enters Balaton ninth in the championship standings, despite an ankle injury sustained at Donington, while Bassani holds 13th overall.
Alex Lowes
"It’s always exciting to race at a new venue. Balaton has a unique layout with slower chicanes and lower top speeds, which should make for some good racing. Our performance has been trending in the right direction, and I’m aiming to continue that momentum. I’ve been focused on recovering from my Donington crash and hope to ride without any issues this weekend. I’m looking forward to having fun with Team 22 and seeing what we can achieve."
Axel Bassani
"Balaton is a new challenge for everyone, which could work in our favor. It’s a track with a lot of first-gear corners and heavy braking, and while we tested there on a stock bike, this weekend will be our first time on the WorldSBK machine. We’ve done well in qualifying, but now we need to carry that speed through the race. We’ll give it everything to take home some strong results."
