More than just damage limitation: In Sunday’s World Superbike Championship race at Donington, Alvaro Bautista takes a few points off his World Championship rival
Ducati factory rider Alvaro Bautista was able to defend his World Championship lead at Donington. The Spaniard even extended his lead in the second race (see race report). Bautista won the duel with world championship rival Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) in race two. He leaves Great Britain with a lead of 17 points (to the overall standings). However, Bautista was unable to prevent Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (Yamaha) hat-trick.
“The day was more positive than Saturday,” Bautista said happily. “I’m happy because I knew this circuit was going to be difficult for Ducati and for me. I didn’t expect that we could be so strong here. It was a surprise for me and also for the team. But also the people in the paddock were surprised how strong we were in the races.”
Already on Saturday, Bautista was fighting for second place. A small mistake caused the first zero of the season. “It was a shame that I crashed on Saturday. I should have left more air to the limit in that corner. On Sunday I adjusted my line in that corner and was more confident. I learned from Saturday’s mistake,” commented the Ducati rider.
Hand pain after crash in race one
The crash in race one had consequences for both races on Sunday. “My right hand was giving me problems. I felt pain after the crash on Saturday. The hand was a bit swollen. I had less feeling in the hand. In the second main race I felt pain,” the Spaniard confessed after the final race.
“I’m happy because we were able to save some things on a difficult weekend for us,” said a happy Bautista, who fought with blunt weapons in the sprint race. Unlike the other top riders, Bautista relied on the SCX tyre. Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu as well as BMW rider Scott Redding were rewarded for taking the risk of using the SCQ tyre.
After the crash, fears were high that Bautista’s season would take a similar course to three years ago when he threw away the title by crashing. But that will not happen again, says the former MotoGP rider.
“Experience makes you better. I wasn’t worried after the crash. I was pretty calm in the Superpole race,” he explains. “I learn from my mistakes in the past. I have a lot more experience with the bike now and I know why I crash and why I don’t. “
“I feel the limit much better. My approach is different now. It’s because of the experience. I just want to enjoy riding the bike every time and do my best,” reports Bautista, who travels to Most (Czech Republic) as the World Championship leader.
The top 3 in the WRC have moved to within 43 points of each other at Donington. “It’s great to have a championship like this,” Bautista enthuses. “I’m happy and I’m trying to keep performing well. I want to enjoy riding. But Most is a circuit where I’ve never ridden the Ducati. “
