It should be a full-gone conclusion but in motorcycle racing, anything can happen. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) just needs to score two points from a possible 62 up for grabs across the entirety of the Prometeon Spanish Round at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto and he’ll be the first back-to-back Ducati Champion since Carl Fogarty in 1998 and 1999. However, a Turn 6 crash in FP2 and with title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) leading the way perhaps suggests that the #1 may have to work for his keep.
Bautista didn’t venture out in a tricky FP1 but in FP2, was straight down to business and had the #54 of Razgatlioglu in his slipstream for a fair chunk of the session. Losing the front at Turn 6 all on his own, Bautista was able to dust himself down and return to the pits but it was an innocent fall the 38-year-old Spaniard could have done without. He managed to finish third overall and won’t be too concerned but it is a hiccup that shows a small chink in what has otherwise been solid armour.
Assessing his crash in the opening chapter to what could be another title-clinching weekend, Bautista said: “Today, we have to say half a day one! In the morning, the track was too wet and we didn’t want to take any risks so we decided not to exit. In the afternoon, the track was almost dry. Just a couple of water patches in some areas of the track. I tried to be very careful in those zones. I crashed at Turn 6 because I went over a wet patch that was not easy to see when you were riding. I didn’t expect it, honestly! It seemed like it was completely dry in that area of the track. Fortunately, I don’t have any physical problems.”
With two World Championship’s already under his belt – 2006 125cc World Championship and 2022 WorldSBK title – but both were achieved far away from home, in Australia and Indonesia respectively. However, this weekend could bring the opportunity for the Ducati star to take the title in his homeland, surrounded by friends, family and all those closest to him, professionally and personally. He’d also be the first Spanish rider to take the title in Spain, as Carlos Checa claimed his 2011 title at Magny-Cours in France.
With regards to Bautista’s match point on Saturday, the #1 said: “Every day that I enjoy the bike is a great day and today I enjoyed it! Tomorrow, the approach is to keep this feeling and to work well; I hope the track is in better condition. The track is so nice when the conditions are good. There is nothing that will change for tomorrow. Firstly, I try to be away from everyone saying, “you’ll win tomorrow! You’ll win tomorrow.” I’m the first person that knows I have the match point tomorrow but it’s better that I don’t think about it. I’ll try to be relaxed, concentrated and focused in the moment to ride the bike. I’ll relax with my friends and family as everyone is here. I’ll try and forget about bikes and we’ll talk about other things, have a joke and have fun, keep busy and that’s all.”
Find out what Bautista needs to do to take the title here and watch in style with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Source: WorldSBK.com