Image: Supplied.

Securing third in the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) was the ideal send-off for Alex Lowes as he departs the Pata Yamaha squad.

Lowes edged out now former teammate Michael van der Mark in the standings by just 14 points, the British ace getting the better of him during Qatar’s finale at the weekend, where he posted 3-3-4 race results.

“It was good to end the season with a strong weekend here in Qatar but, apart from one bad weekend in Jerez and the crash while leading in Misano, I’ve been up there in the top six and really strong in every race,” Lowes explained.

“The target this year was to finish top three in the championship – obviously everyone wants to be world champion, but you’ve got to improve on what you did the year before, keep learning, keep moving forward and this year was a good step forward for me.

“It’s a bittersweet end to the season because I’m leaving a team that has such a great atmosphere, with whom I get on really well and in which I feel a part of the family.

“It’s strange to be leaving both Crescent and Yamaha, we’ll all face new challenges next season, but tonight I’m going to enjoy it, together with the guys who’ve worked so hard for me and helped me achieve my goal this season.”

Lowes will join five-time reigning champion Jonathan Rea at Kawasaki Racing Team in 2020, while his position at Pata Yamaha will be taken up by Toprak Razgatlioglu.