WorldSBK Aragon: ‘More balanced’ Panigale key to Bautista pace

Two very tough years at Honda for Alvaro Bautista may have been the end of his WorldSBK championship ambitions, especially as he is currently 37 years-old.

But his double win and narrow championship lead of three points over race one winner Jonathan Rea confirmed that nothing may be impossible for Bautista this season.

Anyone could see how much he enjoyed the win after race two. In parc ferme, on the podium, everything. So was it as much of a relief to be back there after those two years, as a joy at winning?

“To be honest, yesterday I was happy but I didn’t feel so relaxed because I didn’t give my best in the race,” said Bautista about his 99 per cent ride on Saturday. “After this morning’s race, the Superpole race, I was like, ‘I can do all my best and can show the people that I’m here and that I want to go for more.’

“So, I’m now more relaxed because I won, but I’m more relaxed because especially this morning I can feel free on the bike and do my best and don’t think about finish the race. Just searching the limit every corner, every lap, but not over pass. So, this is the target for this season for me. Position at the end is important, but for me, it’s try to get the maximum of each condition, no matter the result and don’t try to overpass the limit. Just get the maximum in all conditions.”

In 2019, despite all those unstoppable early wins, the Ducati/Bautista package went in search of more on what was then a fully-new bike. So times were different then, despite the same kind of results as Bautista posted in two fo the three Motorland races.

“That time was the first year for Ducati,” explained Bautista. “So, also then they needed more experience, more data. We start to try different things to see which direction to