WorldSBK Indonesia: ‘The level is amazing, so high,’ says new champ Bautista

Alvaro Bautista replayed only the good bits of the recording from his first year with Ducati in 2019 when it came this particular season, and got his first WorldSBK crown as a result.

He was asked how it feel to wear a champion’s suit of clothes, to which he said, “It’s difficult to make some words. I’m just so happy because after two difficult years, many people trust in me and I have the chance to come back to Ducati.

“Gigi, Paolo, Stefano, Serafino, all in Ducati trust in me. They gave me the chance to do it again. I felt really good during all the season. I’m so happy because I have a lot of experience from the past. I try to be as best rider as possible during all the season. Try to don’t make mistakes. I think our performance has been really, really high.”

Who he was up against was the main point of pride for him. “Also because sincerely, I think I had the best performance ever from Toprak and Jonathan,” said Bautista. “They performed really, really at a high level in all the races.

“I was lucky that I had less mistakes than them, so at the end, this championship doing the races like we did. I’m so happy because I feel that I improved like a rider. I can beat these two guys, with Jonathan six times world champion and Toprak one time world champion.

“Breaking all the records in all the tracks. That means that the level is amazing, so high, and we can win with this amazing level. So, now it’s time to celebrate.”

Like many riders leading a championship, or trailing it by an uncomfortable amount, the mantra Bautista kept repeating was about not thinking about the championship. “Now it’s time to think about the championship. Sincerely, I thought in the championship in the starting grid in Race Two.

In that moment, I start