The long summer break is over and Sam Lowes and the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team are raring to return to action this weekend in the French round of this year’s WorldSBK Championship in Magny-Cours

Just days after a positive two-day test session in MotorLand Aragon, Lowes is ready for the adrenaline rush of race action once again as the Magny-Cours clash kicks off the final phase of the 2025 WorldSBK campaign.

Action in round nine of 12 commences at 10:20am local time on Friday morning.

Lowes is back on his Ducati Panigale V4R machine this weekend determined to build on the momentum gained from a truly outstanding performance in late July at the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary.

The Briton went into the summer break on the crest of a wave after departing Hungary with a double Sunday podium, including a sensational first feature race top three in Race 2.

Poor weather and technical issues made it a complicated first visit to Magny-Cours in over a decade last year and Lowes expects 2025 to be a completely different experience.

Finishing top Ducati last week during testing at MotorLand Aragon has only boosted confidence that Lowes can pose a big threat for the podium once again this weekend at the 4.411 km French track.

The 34-year-old is no stranger to success at Magny-Cours having been a prolific podium finisher in World SuperSport when he finished second in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

“I’m really looking forward to racing again”

“After a nice long break, it feels nice to get back racing again and I’m looking forward to a positive weekend and a positive finish to the season with just four rounds remaining. The last round before the summer break I ended really strong with the double podium on Sunday in Hungary and it is important to keep that momentum going. It will be interesting to gauge progress in Magny-Cours this weekend because last year was first time riding there in a long time and it wasn’t easy. But it’s clear we’ve made a significant step this year and I firmly believe we are going to be much stronger this weekend. Three solid races is my target to kick off this final part of the year and I can’t wait to get back going.”