Superbike champion Alvaro Bautista has launched an unprecedented offensive against the FIM's ballast policy. The Ducati rider has gathered more than 2,000 signatures for a shock petition that could shake the foundations of the championship.
As the 2025 season is over, Baptist has turned his discontent into a full-fledged protest movement. The reason? The ballast system, which heavily penalizes lightweight pilots like him, creating an unbearable competitive injustice.
Bautista is thus forced to carry up to 10 kg of additional weight. A mechanical disadvantage that distorts the competition.
Hence the champion's outburst: " It is no longer a question of performance, but of sporting fairness ", reportedly said Baptist According to sources close to the paddock, the Spaniard believes that the current regulations punish physical excellence instead of rewarding pure talent.
The riders also denounce the increased risks associated with ballast: heavier motorcycle, therefore more difficult to maneuver, premature wear of tires and brakes, unpredictable behavior in tight bends, etc.
Alvaro Bautista sounds the revolt beyond the paddock
La FIM et Dorna are under pressure in the face of this historic mobilization. Timing is crucial, as teams are already preparing for the 2026 season.
If the ballast system persists, Baptist threatens to take the matter to international courts. A legal battle that could redefine the technical rules of motorcycle racing.
With more than 2,000 signatures, it is the largest protest in the recent history of World SBKThe pilots, often silent, found in Baptist a voice capable of making things happen.
The real battle for preparing for the upcoming season may not be fought on the track, but in the corridors of power. Baptist has just issued an ultimatum: change the rules or face a general revolt. WorldSBK is on the verge of an institutional crisis.
