BEST OF THE BEST
The 2026 season feels almost like a new era in WorldSBK, so we are asking some new questions to find out just how some of the top riders feel about WorldSBK. From their unique viewpoint on top of their 2026 racebikes, who is the best-of-the-best there has ever been in WorldSBK? And, while we’ re here, what’ s each rider’ s personal high point in their WorldSBK careers so far?
SAM LOWES ELF Marc VDS Racing Team
The‘ other’ Lowes boy is back in WorldSBK again in 2026, chasing his first race win- and even more if it all works out as planned. It’ s easy to think of Sam as a career Moto2 / MotoGP™ rider but he was, of course, the WorldSSP Champion in 2013, after winning the British Supersport Championship Championship in 2010.
His overall memories of WorldSBK racing go way back, never fear. Even with this global grounding and thus a wide spectrum of racing experiences to call on, he cannot quite name just one single‘ best-of-the-best’ WorldSBK rider.
“ Hard to give one answer, because anyone who’ s won the championship is worthy and deserves the praise,” he said, as he now enters his third WorldSBK season.
When pressed on the point, Sam did give us a top few and explained why he arrived at those particular candidates.“ Ben Spies in 2009 was impressive- in and … bosh! It was hard to do that, so you have to say that’ s mega. Foggy( four-time champion Carl Fogarty, in the 1990s, of course) was mega and an icon for the sport in the UK. So, he needs to be on the list.”
Sam looks back into very recent WorldSBK‘ history’ for his final two choices.
If we are trying to define the greatest rider in WorldSBK history, then we can also ask what was the greatest era of WorldSBK’ s many golden times?
“ I believe we are currently in a good moment with the level and the depth of field- and I’ m proud to be a part of it,” said Sam.“ But, maybe the late 1990s and early 2000s was a very good era. There was lots of manufacturer support and high-level racing. It was very enjoyable to be a fan at that time.”
Lowes- the Sam version- is still climbing his own WorldSBK ladder like his brother Alex, and he puts this comment out there as a very personal, satisfying landmark as he enters the new season.“ Being able to ride with my brother at the front of the World Championship will never lose its value to me, and we have always shared some good moments. But until that’ s a double podium, it can’ t be the best one!!! I think my Superpole lap in Assen and my Superpole race second place at Balaton Park( in P2) last year are the top two. In my first season, I struggled a lot to adapt, and the Assen qualifying proved to be some of the steps I had made to also be fast in the WorldSBK category. Finishing second to Toprak in the 1000th WorldSBK race was a nice achievement- but I believe I can fight for more important achievements, and I’ m looking forward to 2026.”
“ Jonathan Rea, for his continued high level and dominance in winning so many times,” confirmed Lowes. He also proposes the reigning and three-time champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, saying“ He’ s there for the level I believe Toprak has- and the interest I have to see how he goes in MotoGP™!”
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