Alvaro Bautista can win WSBK races again after returning to Ducati: Sunday’s two wins at Aragon sees him take over the world championship lead
Two difficult years without victories lie behind Alvaro Bautista. At the first race weekend after returning to Ducati, the Spaniard found 2019 form and won two of the three races. In the Superpole race, Bautista pulled away early and repeated this approach in the second main race. With victory in the afternoon, Bautista took the world championship lead.
The relief was great. “After winning the Superpole race I breathed a sigh of relief and felt like doing more. I am more relaxed now because I felt comfortable on the bike again, I can give my best and I don’t have to think only about how to finish the race,” commented the Ducati returnee.
“I was looking for the limit in every corner and in every lap, but I didn’t go beyond it. That’s the goal for this season,” explains Bautista, who wants to avoid the mistakes of the 2019 season. Back then, crashes ruined the sensational rookie’s World Championship chances. “I want to get the maximum out in all conditions. I don’t want to go over the limit,” he clarifies.
Alvaro Bautista wants to avoid the mistakes of 2019
This new approach was already seen on Saturday in race one. According to his own statements, Bautista only gave 90 per cent and wanted to avoid a crash at all costs. The Spaniard bounced back with second place. “On Saturday I tried to stay calm and get a result that would allow me to build my confidence and lay a foundation for the championship,” he confirmed.
“I was satisfied, but I knew that I didn’t give everything in the race,” said Bautista. On Sunday, he stepped up his game. “I already felt in the warm-up that I could attack really hard. I told myself that I had to try it in the Superpole race. I rode a bit more relaxed and tried to attack and find my rhythm from the start,” the Ducati rider reported.
With a free ride, Alvaro Bautista is able to shake off his rivals
The key to success was having a free ride with no duels. On Saturday, Jonathan Rea kept disturbing the rhythm and took the win as a result
“I knew that I could really push when I was in front. I knew that if I rode my lines and used my braking points, the bike would work really well. I managed to do that and I was really fast in the Superpole race. But I didn’t expect to be able to get that much of a lead,” admits Bautista, who took five seconds out of ten laps.
It was a similar story in the second race. “I rode behind Jonathan at the start to understand the conditions. Once I understood, I got on the front and rode my pace. I tried to go to the limit set by the track. I didn’t want to risk any more at any point. I managed to pull ahead again and win,” described the World Championship leader.
“Nobody is unbeatable,” warns Bautista. “We worked well with the team. The bike was perfect this morning and also this afternoon. It was easier because of the test before. It will be more difficult at the next race when we only have FT1 and FT2 to prepare for the race. It’s the same for everyone though. “
