{"id":1902669,"date":"2026-04-25T15:12:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T12:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1902669"},"modified":"2026-04-25T15:12:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T12:12:41","slug":"worldsbk-rider-warns-its-a-shame-when-one-manufacturer-is-dominating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1902669","title":{"rendered":"WorldSBK rider warns \u201cit\u2019s a shame when one manufacturer is dominating\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>WorldSBK rider warns \u201cit\u2019s a shame when one manufacturer is dominating\u201d<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Alex Lowes says it\u2019s \u201ca shame\u201d for one manufacturer to dominate WorldSBK after Ducati won all three races at Assen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Alex Whitworth <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-25T16:12:41+01:00\">25 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Alex Lowes chases Lorenzo Baldassarri, 2026 Dutch WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Alex Lowes has labelled Ducati\u2019s current domination of WorldSBK \u201ca shame\u201d after the Italian brand secured three podium lockouts at the recent Dutch Round.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati has won all nine World Superbike races in 2026, all with Nicolo Bulega. It\u2019s also scored 1-2s in the last six races with Iker Lecuona finishing behind his teammate in all three races at both Portimao and Assen.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">At the latter, Sam Lowes was third in all three races and Alvaro Bautista was fourth in all three races. In Race 2, Yari Montella locked out the top-five for Ducati and Lorenzo Baldassarri made it an all-Ducati top-six.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati also has a lockout of the top-three in the riders\u2019 standings thanks to Sam Lowes\u2019 Assen results, and has locked out the front row at all three rounds<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">BMW\u2019s Miguel Oliveira is the first non-Ducati rider in the standings, largely thanks to his three third places at Portimao, but is now 117 points behind Bulega after only nine races.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the manufacturers\u2019 standings, Ducati is 93 points clear of second-placed Bimota, which itself has scored 93 points, meaning Ducati has scored double the points of its closest rival.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The factory Bimota team is also second in the teams\u2019 standings, but 167 points behind the factory Ducati squad.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-4a3238d849962387ffc06d0f5f7051d5e4dcd1d2cc7ac179a31b36123f48f122\">  2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen: Championship standings after Race 1   2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen &#8211; Race 1 Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">All this, of course, is coming in the first year of Ducati\u2019s newly updated Panigale V4 R.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the opinion of Bimota\u2019s Alex Lowes, who sits fifth in the championship on equal points with Oliveira, Ducati\u2019s domination is \u201ca shame\u201d.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don\u2019t even want to go on about it, really,\u201d Lowes told WorldSBK.com after Race 2 at Assen when asked about the performance of Ducati.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-e9d8bba55c4ab9dc56f4a85850445a24358d1858b089bb4b12dd59d251adaecf\">  2026 Assen WorldSBK: Bulega pole despite Superpole crash   2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen &#8211; Superpole Qualifying Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut it is a shame when one manufacturer is dominating the results.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut you can\u2019t take it away from them or the riders on the bike, they\u2019re doing a good job.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to try to improve, try to get a bit better, try to maximise ourselves and see if we can get a bit closer to being in the mix.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cCertainly, when I had grip this weekend I felt like I could fight a little bit with them, that was enjoyable; but not much fun in the last race.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI need to try and improve, the guys need to try and improve and we\u2019ll try and do better in Balaton.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Lowes\u2019 Race 2 saw him start in fourth but drop to 11th by the end as he struggled with rear instability.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cRace [2] started like the other two races: good start, good first laps,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThen I encountered a problem, I was really struggling with the rear of the bike to lean the bike, I had some really big slides which really affected my pace and eventually just dropped down.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don\u2019t really know why, we need to analyse a bit more what happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cA shame to end the weekend with a difficult race because even the start of that race we were doing well, the only person that\u2019s really in the mix with the Ducatis, and it\u2019s just a shame that we\u2019ve had this issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut I can\u2019t be disappointed with the weekend, I\u2019ve gave it everything every lap, we\u2019ve been fast. Just need to try and do a bit better in the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Alex Lowes<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Andrea Locatelli&#8217;s WorldSBK improvement helps team-mate beat him<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305244_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-9fb72eb0a808c815acf891e9bac31dd069902c27640b820079b2743415d2bd7a\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Alex Whitworth<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">Journalist<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Alex joined the Crash.net team in August of 2024 having covered consumer and racing motorcycle news at Visordown for two years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-276e9e55f7e5006c7ad245bed228d1783008348a6a0632a356e48e3262144e5b\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Assen WorldSBK: Iker Lecuona leads red-flagged final practice<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1776501000\"> 18\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1304721_hires_1600x900.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Iker Lecuona, 2026 Assen WorldSBK.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen &#8211; Final Practice Results<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1776500520\"> 18\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1304858_hires_1600x900.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Iker Lecuona, 2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Two manufacturers hit with WorldSBK performance penalties<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1776355627\"> 16\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303327_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Iker Lecuona leads Miguel Oliveira and Alex Lowes, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Bimota optimistic of WorldSBK podium challenge at \u201cold school\u201d Assen<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1776174721\"> 14\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303636_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Alex Lowes, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK, grid. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ducati WorldSBK rider tipped to be \u201cback at full power\u201d at Assen<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775231383\"> 03\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Sam Lowes, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK, leaving pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Miguel Oliveira gains WorldSBK veteran praise after \u201cfantastic\u201d Portugal races<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774951332\"> 31\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1303380_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Miguel Oliveira leads Alex Lowes, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Alex Lowes says it\u2019s \u201ca shame\u201d for one manufacturer to dominate WorldSBK after Ducati won all three races at Assen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Alex Lowes has labelled Ducati\u2019s current domination of WorldSBK \u201ca shame\u201d after the Italian brand secured three podium lockouts at the recent Dutch Round.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati has won all nine World Superbike races in 2026, all with Nicolo Bulega. It\u2019s also scored 1-2s in the last six races with Iker Lecuona finishing behind his teammate in all three races at both Portimao and Assen.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">At the latter, Sam Lowes was third in all three races and Alvaro Bautista was fourth in all three races. In Race 2, Yari Montella locked out the top-five for Ducati and Lorenzo Baldassarri made it an all-Ducati top-six.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati also has a lockout of the top-three in the riders\u2019 standings thanks to Sam Lowes\u2019 Assen results, and has locked out the front row at all three rounds<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">BMW\u2019s Miguel Oliveira is the first non-Ducati rider in the standings, largely thanks to his three third places at Portimao, but is now 117 points behind Bulega after only nine races.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the manufacturers\u2019 standings, Ducati is 93 points clear of second-placed Bimota, which itself has scored 93 points, meaning Ducati has scored double the points of its closest rival.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The factory Bimota team is also second in the teams\u2019 standings, but 167 points behind the factory Ducati squad.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-4a3238d849962387ffc06d0f5f7051d5e4dcd1d2cc7ac179a31b36123f48f122\">  2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen: Championship standings after Race 1   2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen &#8211; Race 1 Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">All this, of course, is coming in the first year of Ducati\u2019s newly updated Panigale V4 R.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the opinion of Bimota\u2019s Alex Lowes, who sits fifth in the championship on equal points with Oliveira, Ducati\u2019s domination is \u201ca shame\u201d.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don\u2019t even want to go on about it, really,\u201d Lowes told WorldSBK.com after Race 2 at Assen when asked about the performance of Ducati.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-e9d8bba55c4ab9dc56f4a85850445a24358d1858b089bb4b12dd59d251adaecf\">  2026 Assen WorldSBK: Bulega pole despite Superpole crash   2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen &#8211; Superpole Qualifying Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut it is a shame when one manufacturer is dominating the results.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut you can\u2019t take it away from them or the riders on the bike, they\u2019re doing a good job.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to try to improve, try to get a bit better, try to maximise ourselves and see if we can get a bit closer to being in the mix.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cCertainly, when I had grip this weekend I felt like I could fight a little bit with them, that was enjoyable; but not much fun in the last race.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI need to try and improve, the guys need to try and improve and we\u2019ll try and do better in Balaton.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Lowes\u2019 Race 2 saw him start in fourth but drop to 11th by the end as he struggled with rear instability.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cRace [2] started like the other two races: good start, good first laps,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThen I encountered a problem, I was really struggling with the rear of the bike to lean the bike, I had some really big slides which really affected my pace and eventually just dropped down.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don\u2019t really know why, we need to analyse a bit more what happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cA shame to end the weekend with a difficult race because even the start of that race we were doing well, the only person that\u2019s really in the mix with the Ducatis, and it\u2019s just a shame that we\u2019ve had this issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut I can\u2019t be disappointed with the weekend, I\u2019ve gave it everything every lap, we\u2019ve been fast. Just need to try and do a bit better in the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Alex Lowes has labelled Ducati\u2019s current domination of WorldSBK \u201ca shame\u201d after the Italian brand secured three podium lockouts at the recent Dutch Round.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati has won all nine World Superbike races in 2026, all with Nicolo Bulega. It\u2019s also scored 1-2s in the last six races with Iker Lecuona finishing behind his teammate in all three races at both Portimao and Assen.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">At the latter, Sam Lowes was third in all three races and Alvaro Bautista was fourth in all three races. In Race 2, Yari Montella locked out the top-five for Ducati and Lorenzo Baldassarri made it an all-Ducati top-six.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati also has a lockout of the top-three in the riders\u2019 standings thanks to Sam Lowes\u2019 Assen results, and has locked out the front row at all three rounds<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">BMW\u2019s Miguel Oliveira is the first non-Ducati rider in the standings, largely thanks to his three third places at Portimao, but is now 117 points behind Bulega after only nine races.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the manufacturers\u2019 standings, Ducati is 93 points clear of second-placed Bimota, which itself has scored 93 points, meaning Ducati has scored double the points of its closest rival.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The factory Bimota team is also second in the teams\u2019 standings, but 167 points behind the factory Ducati squad.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-4a3238d849962387ffc06d0f5f7051d5e4dcd1d2cc7ac179a31b36123f48f122\">  2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen: Championship standings after Race 1   2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen &#8211; Race 1 Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">All this, of course, is coming in the first year of Ducati\u2019s newly updated Panigale V4 R.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the opinion of Bimota\u2019s Alex Lowes, who sits fifth in the championship on equal points with Oliveira, Ducati\u2019s domination is \u201ca shame\u201d.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don\u2019t even want to go on about it, really,\u201d Lowes told WorldSBK.com after Race 2 at Assen when asked about the performance of Ducati.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-e9d8bba55c4ab9dc56f4a85850445a24358d1858b089bb4b12dd59d251adaecf\">  2026 Assen WorldSBK: Bulega pole despite Superpole crash   2026 Dutch WorldSBK, Assen &#8211; Superpole Qualifying Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut it is a shame when one manufacturer is dominating the results.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut you can\u2019t take it away from them or the riders on the bike, they\u2019re doing a good job.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to try to improve, try to get a bit better, try to maximise ourselves and see if we can get a bit closer to being in the mix.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cCertainly, when I had grip this weekend I felt like I could fight a little bit with them, that was enjoyable; but not much fun in the last race.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI need to try and improve, the guys need to try and improve and we\u2019ll try and do better in Balaton.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Lowes\u2019 Race 2 saw him start in fourth but drop to 11th by the end as he struggled with rear instability.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cRace [2] started like the other two races: good start, good first laps,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThen I encountered a problem, I was really struggling with the rear of the bike to lean the bike, I had some really big slides which really affected my pace and eventually just dropped down.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don\u2019t really know why, we need to analyse a bit more what happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cA shame to end the weekend with a difficult race because even the start of that race we were doing well, the only person that\u2019s really in the mix with the Ducatis, and it\u2019s just a shame that we\u2019ve had this issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut I can\u2019t be disappointed with the weekend, I\u2019ve gave it everything every lap, we\u2019ve been fast. Just need to try and do a bit better in the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/wsbk\/news\/1093519\/1\/worldsbk-rider-warns-its-shame-when-one-manufacturer-dominating&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1305702_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] WorldSBK rider warns \u201cit\u2019s a shame when one manufacturer is dominating\u201d Alex Lowes says it\u2019s \u201ca shame\u201d for one manufacturer to dominate WorldSBK after Ducati won all three races at Assen. Alex Whitworth 25 Apr 2026 Share Alex Lowes chases Lorenzo Baldassarri, 2026 Dutch WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and Goose. \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1902669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1902669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1902669"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1902669\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1902669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1902669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1902669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}