Alex Lowes can establish himseꩵlf as Kawasaki’s leader in the absence of Jonathan Rea when the World S﷽uperbike 2024 season kicks off this weekend.

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

Lowes, in his 🃏fifth year at Kawasaki, welcomes ex-Ducati rider Axelꦉ Bassani as his new teammate in place of Rea.

But Lowes will work with Pere Riba, Rea’s former crew chief. A🐭nd Marcel Duinker, who previously w🐲as Lowes’ crew chief, is now assigned to Bassani.

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

“Obviously, Jona💞than moved on at the end of last year, so the dynamics 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 best chance of being competitive.

“Axel’s come in from some fantastic years on the Ducati; he finished sixth in the wor💞ld last year, so he did a better job than me!

“He’s trying to prove himself in a factory team and brings the knowledge from ♉the Ducati.

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

Sa💟m 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 moment. It’s a big thing for me to get here.

“I had a lot to learn and still do, coming into this weekend with the 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 li☂ke I’m a little bit more competitive than what I anticipated.

“I think we can look at this season i♉n 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 podiu🌞m and then see where we are.”