Alvaro Bautista is furious. The two-time Superbike World Champion has reignited the controversy surrounding his petition against the minimum combined weight rule for motorcycle and rider, accusing manufacturers of influencing the position of several riders. According to the Ducati rider, the riders' voice has been silenced in favor of the brands' interests.
It all started with a petition launched by Baptist He himself is calling for the removal of the regulation imposing a minimum total weight for the motorcycle and its rider. A rule he considers profoundly unfair:
« For the past two years, I've given everything I could… All the drivers on the grid signed the petition, except for one, Johnny Rea »
The message seemed clear: almost the entire panel supported BaptistBut what followed was a setback. The signatures were partially withdrawn, and the project was shelved by the builders' association (MSMA), all of whom opposed it. Baptist EXCEPT Ducati.
« The MSMA decides on the regulationsBut when the drivers were able to express themselves freely, without being influenced by the manufacturers, they agreed with me., " explain Baptist.
He adds : " These signatures were real, transparent, and sincere. What happened afterward, to me, is worthless.Because I wonder if all of this hasn't been manipulated. »
The rule contested by Baptist imposes a minimum combined rider + motorcycle weight. In other words, a lightweight rider like him has to add ballast, which negates part of his natural advantage in handling and acceleration.
Alvaro Bautista: “ What happened next simply shows how much control manufacturers have over everything. »
According to the Spaniard, the problem is not only technical: it is political. The signatures remain, but the manufacturers influenced the drivers" he accuses.
In other words, the pilots' freedom of expression would have been stifled under pressure from the brands. Baptist implies that some drivers were asked to withdraw their signatures after internal discussions with their manufacturer — particularly on the side of Yamaha where several have indeed reversed course.
This latest episode highlights a growing divide between drivers and manufacturers. BaptistThis case reveals a structural imbalance: the pilots risk their lives, but have no real power over sporting decisions.
« When the pilots were able to speak freely, They were unitedWhat happened next simply shows how much control manufacturers have over everything. »
In this battle, Ducati was the only manufacturer to support its driver. But the Spaniard says he is clear-sighted: his petition mainly highlighted the championship's dependence on industry, and not the solidarity between drivers.
And he insists: “ What happened next is meaningless to me. I wonder if it was all manipulated, but one thing is certain: the signatures remain. »
Behind the anger of Baptist A broader question lies beneath the surface: who truly runs the sport? The drivers, supposedly the protagonists? Or the manufacturers, who control the budgets and dictate the regulations?
This battle over a simple petition reveals a deeper unease within the Superbike — a championship where mechanics sometimes seem more powerful than the human voice.
