Two years ago, Alvaro Bautista was at the top of the Superbike world, on his way to winning Ducati its second consecutive title since the Fogarty era. But his dominance—27 wins in one season—ultimately backfired. It precipitated the adoption of a controversial rule: a minimum combined bike/rider weight, meant to rebalance the forces.
For Baptist, the results are bitter. Since the rule was introduced, his performances have plummeted: only four victories in a year and a half, even though Toprak Razgatlioglu migrated to BMW and Nicholas Bulega has moved up in ranks at Ducati the six kilos additional restrictions imposed on his Panigale clearly harm his riding style.
And today, the situation has reached a turning point. Ducati Aruba ruled it out for 2026, and the prospects of Baptist The transfer market is dwindling. The Spaniard has therefore decided to break his silence in a poignant message published on Tuesday, in which he denounces an injustice that has become, according to him, a form of discrimination.
« Today I want to write about a topic that is not easy for me, but which I consider absolutely necessary. I also speak as someone who has personally experienced what it feels like to be judged. – and, in a way, penalized – not for his performance or his level of involvement, but for his body, his weight »
Baptist does not reject the fact that weight influences track performance, but it points to a deeper problem: current regulations do not take into account the natural morphological diversity of drivers.
Alvaro Bautista: “ When the system does not take into account natural differences between morphologies, it loses its fairness and begins to exclude »
« When the system does not take into account natural differences between body types, it loses its fairness and begins to exclude »
He cites the example of Dani Pedrosa, very light, or even Danilo Petrucci, more massive, to illustrate a complex debate where weight has always played a role – with advantages and disadvantages.
Its objective is clear: to open dialogue, not to play the victim, but to prevent future pilots from experiencing the same frustration.
« Pilots are not defined by a number on a scale. They are defined by their intelligence on the track, their instinct, their courage and their connection with the motorcycle »
For the time being, the future of Baptist remains uncertain. A return to Honda or a transfer to BMW are possible avenues. But everything could depend on a possible regulatory change. If the Superbike reviews its criteria, Baptist would perhaps find a chance to shine again.
In the meantime, his heartfelt cry could well launch a fundamental debate on fairness in motorsports.
