Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) are now making final preparations to take on the challenge of the 4.182km long Circuito Estoril, located near the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. The 11th of 12 rounds will take place there between 10-12 October.

The bimota KB998 Rimini machine has already played a full part in its debut FIM Superbike World Championship season, with some front-row qualifying performances morphing into not just podium potential but four podium realities so far.

Every 2025 WorldSBK race weekend has been, by definition, a fresh challenge for a new project like BbKRT. At Estoril, this factor will be raised one more level, as BbKRT has not tested at Estoril. On the other hand, this long-established Portuguese circuit also levels things out somewhat as none of the team’s many current rivals have tested at the famous Portuguese circuit this year either.

As it stands, after ten rounds and 33 individual races in 2025, Lowes is seventh in the championship standings, with his team-mate Bassani tenth.

For the WorldSBK riders at Estoril, there will be two Free Practice sessions on Friday, 10 October, followed by FP3, Tissot-Superpole Qualifying, and a full 21-lap Race One on Saturday, 11 October. A ten-lap Tissot-Superpole Race, and another 21-lap Race Two, will complete the Estoril action in the top category of global production-derived racing.

Soon after all the track sessions in Portugal come to an end, there will be a short cross-border relocation for the WorldSBK paddock, as the Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto in Spain hosts the final round of the championship, between 17-19 October.

Alex Lowes stated: “Estoril is a bit of a quirky circuit layout. I’m excited to try it with the bimota KB998 Rimini when free practice starts on Friday. Estoril is a technical track, which I think could play to our strengths in some sectors of its layout. It’s a shame that it’s nearly the end of the season already, but I’m looking forward to getting to work again with all in Team22, and aiming to finish our first year with the KB998 as strongly as we possibly can.”

Axel Bassani stated: “Estoril is not a bad track layout. It is a little bit small but with a long front straight. That part is maybe not the best for us, but compared to the previous round at Motorland Aragon, the rest of the Estoril track is a bit slower, with a lot of hard braking areas. I think we can be part of the game. For sure, we will have to do a lot of good work in Superpole Qualifying. We will need a slipstream, in reality. We will see what happens, but we will continue working hard practice and then try to find some good results in the races.”