Bautista had shown some talent at the start of the season by finishing in fourth place in the Argentine Grand Prix, 6.5 behind winner Marc Marquez and 9 seconds ahead of fifth Johann Zarco. But consistency was never part of Alvaro's kit, who only took home one point from the four other GPs contested at the start of the season in Qatar, Austin, Jerez and France.
His situation improved again at the Italian Grand Prix with a fifth place which allowed Ducati to claim victory thanks to Andrea Dovizioso, the third step on the Podium with Danilo Petrucci, and therefore three Desmosedici among the first five thanks to Bautista.
During practice, Alvaro qualified for Q2, where he obtained an honorable tenth position on the grid. Although he only started from the fourth row, he jumped as soon as the lights went out and was in sixth position at the end of the first lap.
Jonas Folger overtook him, imitated shortly after by Danilo Petrucci. By the seventh lap, Alvaro was sandwiched between Jorge Lorenzo et Valentino Rossi (see photo), group fighting for seventh place. Alvaro passed Lorenzo, then was overtaken by Johann Zarco, then by Jorge Lorenzo. Bautista was at the end of the race three seconds behind the Zarco-Folger duo fighting for fifth place, and four seconds ahead of Valentino Rossi in eighth.
Seventh place allowed Bautista, also thanks to fourth from Argentina and fifth from Mugello, to climb into the first half of the ranking, one point ahead of twelfth Scott Redding.
For Alvaro Bautista, “ The race was tough. We had a good start and in the first few laps I didn't want to push the tires too much because I knew I would need them at the end.
“I was overtaken several times and even though I wanted to do it again, I chose to hold back. Then I could feel that little by little the condition of the tires was getting worse.
“In the final part of the race I was close to a few guys, but I lost the front at the end of the straight and couldn't fight with them in the last few laps.
“The rear was also worn, but we finished and made it for a second race in a row close to those in front. Let's see if we can continue like this for the next races. »
Race ranking:
1- Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP
2- Marc Marquez – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 3.544
3- Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda Team - Honda RC213V - + 6.774
4- Jorge Lorenzo – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 9.608
5- Johann Zarco – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 13.838
6- Jonas Folger – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 13.921
7- Alvaro Bautista – Pull&Bear Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 16.763
8- Valentino Rossi – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 20.821
9- Hector Barbera – Reale Avintia Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 23.952
10- Maverick Vinales – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 24.189
11- Cal Crutchlow – LCR Honda – Honda RC213V – + 28.329
12- Loris Baz – Reale Avintia Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP15 – + 33.281
13- Scott Redding – OCTO Pramac Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 35.200
14- Karel Abraham – Pull&Bear Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP15 – + 39.436
15- Tito Rabat – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Honda RC213V – + 40.872
16- Andrea Iannone – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki GSX-RR – + 43.221
17- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki GSX-RR – + 44.655
18- Pol Espargaro – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM RC16 – + 48.993
19- Sam Lowes – Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – Aprilia RS-GP – + 55.492
World Championship :
1 Maverick VIÑALES-Yamaha 111 points
2 Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati 104
3 Marc MARQUEZ-Honda 88
4 Dani PEDROSA-Honda 84
5 Valentino ROSSI-Yamaha 83
6 Johann ZARCO-Yamaha 75
7 Jorge LORENZO-Ducati 59
8 Jonas FOLGER-Yamaha 51
9 Cal CRUTCHLOW-Honda 45
10 Danilo PETRUCCI-Ducati 42
11 Alvaro BAUTISTA-Ducati 34
12 Scott REDDING-Ducati 33
13 Jack MILLER-Honda 30
14 Loris BAZ-Ducati 23
15 Andrea IANNONE-Suzuki 21
16 Hector BARBERA-Ducati 21
17 Tito RABAT-Honda 19
18 Aleix ESPARGARO-Aprilia 17
19 Karel ABRAHAM-Ducati 11
20 Michele PIRRO-Ducati 7
21 Alex RINS-Suzuki 7
22 Pol ESPARGARO-KTM 6
23 Bradley SMITH-KTM 6
24 Sam LOWES-Aprilia 2
25 Sylvain GUINTOLI-Suzuki 1
Photo © Pull&Bear Aspar Team
