Talented twins on the way to motorcycle stardom
Tennis has the Williams sisters, football boasted the Charltons, cricket can claim the Waughs while the Underwoods carried the torch for rugby union.
Identical twins competing at the top echelon of their discipline are much harder to come by, but Lincoln's Alex and Sam Lowes are doing just that.
From the moment they appeared on the podium together at an Aprilia Superteens meeting at the age of 12, the pair seemed destined for motorcycle stardom.
Now 19, the pair are set to embark on the biggest season of their careers so far – Sam in the British Supersport Championship, Alex in British Superbikes.
Despite their tender years, the pair are almost veterans of the national scene, having progressed through the ranks via the British 125GP series, where they were team-mates.
The Lowes have also taken the plunge into the European scene with Alex competing in the European Superstock Championship and Sam entering World Supersport races in 2009.
The twins' ascent has been almost, well, identical. But, as they explain, that remarkable repetition does not end there – or remain confined to bike racing.
"We used to have this thing, when we were in Superteens and 125s, where we'd fall off at the same corner," recalls Sam.
"Once, at Brands Hatch, Alex fell off in the morning at Paddock Hill bend and in the first race, which I was leading, I fell off at the same place.
"We've done it loads of times, fallen off at the same corner on the same day or weekend. It's weird."
Alex adds: "It's not just in bikes either, we're very even at everything.
"We go karting in Lincoln and we're the same. We were playing squash the other week and we had to be chucked off the court because we couldn't be separated. We had to settle for a draw."
Their strikingly similar ability has, of course, led to plenty of on-track duels down the years – and even the odd crash with each other.
"If I was going into a corner and thinking about passing him, I'd probably laugh to myself," admits Alex.
"But I don't worry about running into him any more than I would anyone else. I just treat him like any other rider."
Sam then interjects.
"He knocked me off at Cadwell once, but we didn't tell our dad," he laughs.
"It was the first time on our new 125s in a club race. I was going into Mansfield and I heard this bike coming down the side of me and it just took me out."
Alex adds: "In motocross, where we started out, we used to knock each other off all the time. Sometimes we'd do it purpose!"
Those tales are followed by a bout of laughter from the pair, whose relationship has remained rock-solid in what is the most competitive of sports, where second place is never enough.
"As much as we have a bit of banter, we've never fallen out about anything," insists Sam.
"We always help each other out and push each other as much as we can.
"When we were team-mates we just helped each other.
"It was never a case 'I'm in front of you', we just helped each other to get to where we wanted to be.
"It's hard taking criticism off people but because we know each other so well, we listen to it more.
"If Alex says something to me, I always listen to it more because I know he's going to tell me the truth."
The pair are no longer team-mates. Sam, last year's Supersport Cup champion, will fight for the main title on a GNS Racing Honda.
Alex, meanwhile, has secured ride in British Superbikes.
Read the Lowes feature in full in today's Lincolnshire Echo.
Alex and Sam Lowes (right).
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