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Alvaro Bautista found his place in the SBK and proved it by bringing the title to Borgo Panigale with the Aruba team. The Spanish rider allowed Ducati to celebrate the double MotoGP-SBK win for the first time in its history. We talked with Alvaro about his magical year (read the interview HERE), but it’s interesting to ask a rider like himself his the opinion on the MotoGP, a class in which he’s been active for many years.
Do you like the current MotoGP?
“It’s difficult to comment from the outside. My feeling is that, lately, all the bikes have come so close from a technical point of view. There’s less of a difference between the official and satellite ones. It seems to me that the limit is now set by the bike. You can see less of the rider’s hand. The test times are all very close, but they’re one after the other in the race.”
Are aerodynamics and lowering devices a problem, like more than one rider believes?
“They’re making it similar to the Formula 1. There’s less technology in the SBK. Also, in MotoGP, it seems like all the bikes have all the same characteristics for going fast, while the Kawasaki has certain qualities in the SBK, the Yamaha others, and the Ducati others still. You can see where one bike is faster and another less. There are many overtakings because, in one lap, one bike goes better in some points of the track and another in others. This allows the rider to make a little more of a difference. The Pirellis also allow you to make different trajectories, while it seems to me that the Michelins have to be used in a certain way and, when you try to do something more, you fall. Also, the bikes move more, and that’s why there’s entertainment. From the outside, it seems to me that the SBKs allow the rider to do more than the MotoGP.”
Bagnaia won the title with Ducati. What do you think of him?
“Pecco is a very calm rider who works hard and needs confidence on the bike. He’s a bit like me. He needs good feelings to push hard and go fast. When he has them, he’s very precise. Just look at his pace in the race, and he doesn’t make many mistakes. In this sense, he also reminds me of Jorge Lorenzo.”
This was the season of Marquez’s return. Do you think he can return to his level?
“I think so. From what I’ve seen, he’s not at one hundred percent yet, even if he’s already going fast. He has to be able to do it in a more natural way, while it seems to me that it’s more forced. If he manages to reach the level he had before, he’ll be able to fight up front, even if the Honda is not at the top. I don’t think he’ll be able to progress much next year. I don’t think they’ll start the season with a super performing bike.”
What kind of championship do you expect?
“Marquez will be able to stay up ahead. After this championship, Bagnaia will have more peace of mind and confidence. For Quartararo, it’ll depend a lot on the Yamaha and, with only two bikes, it’ll be more complicated. I haven’t forgotten about Bastianini, who had already surprised me last year and who has had an exceptional 2022. We’ll have to see what he’ll do in the official team.”
Would you like a wild card in the MotoGP?
“I’d like to try the Desmosedici, because it looks like a fun bike and, if I were to feel good, I’d also do a Grand Prix. But that’s not up to me.”
