Alvaro Bautista increases his lead in the World Superbike Championship to 36 points and takes over the role of World Championship favourite after a twelfth successive podium
Ducati were jubilant as Alvaro Bautista took two wins at their WSBK home race at Misano. After winning the first race on Saturday afternoon (see race report), Bautista also won race two on Sunday afternoon (see race report). In the Superpole race (see race report) he collected important points in second place.
In each of the three races his lead in the World Championship increased. Bautista leaves Misano with a 36-point lead and is now the big World Championship favourite (to the overall standings).
In front of the eyes of Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali and Ducati-Corse boss Luigi Dall’Igna, Bautista celebrated two clear race wins. Kawasaki rider Jonathan Rea lost a lot of points in race two as he only finished in fourth position. Toprak Razgatlioglu dropped a lot of points on Saturday as his Yamaha R1 rolled out with a flat battery.
Alvaro Bautista fades out of championship and reminds of 2019
Is Bautista already eyeing the World Championship title or is he continuing to take it race by race? “I’m not looking at the championship. Three years ago I was over 60 points in the lead. After that I lost the championship and was more than 150 points behind,” the Ducati rider recalled.
“It is still too early. I want to concentrate on the work and keep going like this. I want to get the maximum in all conditions. If I can fight for the win, I will. If I can fight for fifth place, then I’ll fight for fifth place,” Bautista states his strategy, stressing, “The important thing is to finish the races. “
Unusual duel strength in the Misano duels
In the two Sunday races, Bautista risked a lot at times. “The battle with Toprak went on for a few laps and was fun. Then I was in the lead and managed to pull away. I’m really happy and I hope I can continue like this,” he notes. “I really enjoyed the race a lot. I like to fight like that. “
Compared to the previous races, Bautista settled for tougher duels. “When I am faster, I prefer to be in the lead, even if the other riders can then follow me. But I also showed that I can fight,” the Spaniard is pleased.
“In the Superpole race I dueled with Jonathan and in the afternoon with Toprak. I feel stronger than three years ago, when it was difficult for me to fight with other riders,” notes the Ducati factory rider.
Wins in front of Ducati managers: will contract extension follow soon?
This season, Bautista has won half of the races and has been the only rider to always finish on the podium. Does the success at Misano and the very successful season so far pave the way for the contract extension at Ducati?
“I am not thinking about the championship and certainly not about next season. It is still too early. I’m really enjoying the bike at the moment and not thinking about the future. I want to live in the present and enjoy the moment,” he explains. “When the time comes to decide what to do next year, then I will think about it. I’m quite old already, ” he jokes.
No good memories at Ducati’s fearsome Donington circuit
After Misano, the World Superbike Championship goes into a four-week break. After that it continues at Donington. The demanding circuit in England was not a good place for Bautista three years ago. Ducati usually struggles more at Donington than Kawasaki and Yamaha.
“There will be moments in the future when we will suffer. We have to prepare for that. We have to stay calm. When everything goes according to plan, then it is easy. But when it gets difficult, that’s when it shows if you are a good rider or not,” Bautista notes.
“Toprak was struggling to win. But he kept the ball and today he was able to win. That’s the difference between a good rider and a champion,” explains the former MotoGP rider, who expects a difficult weekend at Donington.
Bautista does not have good memories of 2019. “Donington was not easy for us three years ago. The bike has changed a bit since then. But I think the coming race will be very difficult for us,” muses the World Championship leader.
