The reigning WSBK World Champion and official Ducati Alvaro Bautista is, so to speak, outrageously dominating the current World Superbike season, to the point that it has become a walk in the park leading him to the confirmation of his reign and his status as n°1 for 2024. Calmly, he can compare his current situation to that which he experienced during another part of his career in MotoGP. An interesting reflection on the satellite motorcycles and factories of the time while on the question of the future of the relationship between Marc Marquez and Honda, he has a clear opinion.
Alvaro Bautista expressed himself in the columns of GP One about his championship and also about his former life as a MotoGP rider. He first explains how he was able to relaunch his career to this extent in the category reserved for motorcycles from the series, when he was only an extra in the Grand Prix, bordering on disappointed hopes: “ in MotoGP, almost all the best riders ride a Ducati, while in my championship, the only Ducati that rides in front is mine. The others have good moments, but none of the other Ducatis manage to fight for victory ". This observation made, he said: “ the key in Superbike is the bike-rider-team combination. It's a Ducati derived from the MotoGP concept and designed by Gigi Dall'Igna, so for my style, which comes from MotoGP. It suits me very well, and the bike allows me to ride in a very natural way. When I was at Honda, I drove the same way, but we didn't get along... ».
Alvaro Bautista: “ now, MotoGP is more open, the satellite bikes are winning and there are no longer all these names that were always in front »
But then, why didn't he break into MotoGP? Because it was a different era, that Pecco Bagnaia described in an intervention which would have been taken “out of context”. But this time, with Baptist, we are right at the heart of the subject: “ It’s the era that touched me: I was on a satellite bike and there was more difference with the factory bikes. And then I raced with Rossi, Lorenzo, Marquez, Stoner, Pedrosa, Dovizioso… In 2012 I finished fifth and in 2013 sixth with a satellite bike. It was a merit. There were all these big names up front. Now MotoGP is more open, the satellite bikes are winning and there are no longer all these names that were always in front ».
« I always had to make do with satellite bikes, because I was never part of a factory team. I couldn't show everything I was capable of. I feel like I could have given more. Now I'm giving my best. Now I'm truly myself » adds the pilot 38 years which closely follows the news of its former category, and in particular that of a Marc Marquez who can no longer make the difference alone on a Honda far from the mark.
The Superbike World Champion also analyzes the situation of the eight-time champion: “ Marc Marquez has the potential to become champion again, but it's not just the physical factor that matters, there are other things. I would be very surprised if he won the championship this year. I wouldn't bet on him, but not because I don't believe in him, but because of the technical level we have today: today the talent of a pilot is less appreciated than a few years ago. Now Marquez can't show all his talent. He needs to find his rhythm and settle in psychologically, because those were crazy years, with lots of interruptions and operations ».
And he concludes about the future of the Cervera phenomenon with Honda : " I would just tell him to do what he thinks is best for him. But in this world you have to be selfish and think about yourself ».
