Alex Lowes can establish himself as Kawasaki’s leader in the🃏 absence of Jonathan Rea when the World Superbike 2024 season kicks off this weekend.

The grid has a much-changed feel this year wiꦿth Rea at Yamaha and Toprak Razgatlioglu at BMW.

Lowes, in his fifth year at Kawasaki, welcomes ex-Duc﷽ati rider Axel Bassani as his new teammate in place of Rea.

But Lowes will work with Pere Riba, Rea’s former crew c✱hief. And Marcel Duinker, who previously was Lowes’ crew chief, is now assigned to Bassani.

“It’s been interest🍸ing to work with Pere Riba,” Lowes said ahead of the season-opening Phillip Island round.

ꦛ“Obviously, Jonathan moved on at the end of last year, so the dynamics𒉰 have changed in the team a little bit.

“The winter was spent trying to get to know each other and ♎trying to get more out of myself and the package.

“Any teammate you’ve got, you try to work together to give the team the bes🌟t chance of being competitive.

“Axel’s come in from some fantastic yea♒rs on the Ducati; he finished sixth in the world last year, so he did a better job than me!

“He’s trying to prove himself in a factory tea💞m and brings the knowledge from t꧙he Ducati.

“He’s helping as wellཧ; he’s been a great teammate. He believes in himself a lot and it’s going to be💜 a nice dynamic in the team.”

Sam Lowes has moved into WSBK this🐻 year, with Marc VDS Ducati, after exiting Moto2.

“It’s been a nice pre-season,” Sam said.

“I’m excited and proud of this mom🍌ent. It’s a big thing for me to get here.

“I had a lot to learn and still do, coming into this weekend with t🌌he format, the setting of the bike and how to race the bike, and it’s going to be a different race here with many things to learn but I’m positive.

“I feel like I’m a little bit more competitiveꦐ than wh🍨at I anticipated.

“I think w💫e can look at this season in a good way.

“I want to get into the season before making a big statement about my goals, but I feel like I can be competitive and fight for the top five and the podium and then see where we🐽 are.”