It was last Tuesday when Alvaro Bautista entrusted his social media channels with a very direct outburst about the injustice and unfairness, in his opinion, at the basis of the Superbike regulatory system. The focus of the post was clearly the rule on the minimum weight of the bike-rider addition that since last year, coming into force, has clearly plateaued downward the performance of the two-time World Champion. On this Thursday pre-race, which opens the doors to the weekend at Donington, the Spaniard was pressed by the media and returning to the issues he took it upon himself to make some clarifications, as well as giving his idea of what may await him on the English track from tomorrow.
"It's always nice to be here, because Donington was my favorite track when I raced in 125 and 250. In fact, this is where I scored my first world championship points and my first podium in 125 in 2004. I have very good memories, but now it's different with Superbike. The track improved a lot when it was resurfaced a couple of years ago and you can have more fun riding. This is certainly not an easy track because there are all kinds of corners. The first part is very fast, while the last part is very tight and hard braking. So it's difficult to find a good balance of the bike, and not lose in either area. Honestly, I come here with no expectations. Fortunately between last year and this year I improved my feeling on the bike, but I remember that last season it was a very difficult weekend. I didn't have a good feeling and I couldn't ride the bike the way I wanted. We'll see how it goes this year. I will try to find a good feeling as early as Friday and then improve each season."
Last week on your social media you made a pretty harsh post regarding the current SBK regulations, which according to you go so far as to discriminate against lighter riders.
"Yes, for me it is not a fair thing. It's discrimination for a lightweight rider, because at the end of the day this is my physique and it's not fair that because of my physique I have a handicap that other riders don't have. This is a sport and you have to do your best with the body you have. For me it is not fair to be penalized because of my physique. In the last 2 years they tell me "you don't perform like before," but it's because I'm not in the same situation. I want to tell people what my feelings are: I don't have a good feeling. I race, I compete, but I feel a sense of injustice. In the smaller categories this system is more understandable because there is less power and the bikes weigh less. But in the major categories, with bikes of this weight, it doesn't make sense. Also, it is clear how much this discourages light riders from coming to SBK, whereas in MotoGP this doesn't happen. I talked to Carmelo last year and he also disagreed, the problem is that in SBK the manufacturers decide the rules, in MotoGP they don't. Over the years I've realized that this championship needs the support of the manufacturers to move forward, so they have more power. I would also agree with making the Championship as balanced as possible but this method is not the right one because it only ends up penalizing the lighter riders and doesn't balance the performance of the bikes."
Do you think the ballast issue could be one of the causes that led Ducati not to renew your contract?
"I don't think so, Ducati knows the reality of things."
Do you already have alternative options on the table for next year?
"Definitely now that I am free I am talking to other manufacturers because I want to continue racing. I'm calm but I don't deny that I'm having problems and I don't have anything on the table yet. Luckily there are a lot of free bikes for next year, so I'm not very worried. The problem is that I am carrying 7 kg to add to the bike. That is the big problem, because all the manufacturers I talked to could not use the standard bike. If you add that weight, the bike is transformed, it becomes another bike, believe me. Now it's my problem, but in the future it will involve other riders and it's not fair. The most important thing for me would be to go back to the normal regulation, because I think this rule is unfair for lighter riders. I am more worried about that than about finding a seat. There are a lot of free bikes and with Ducati the door is not closed. We have to keep talking and see what happens. My first goal is to keep racing and my second goal is to keep racing here in Superbike. We will see what happens."
If the regulations do not change would retirement become an option or would you start looking at other championships?
"At the moment I want to continue racing, I am motivated. I also have to say that I have options to move to MotoGP, not as a starting rider, but with the possibility of doing wild cards. However, as I said, my goal is to remain a full-time rider in SBK."
What about racing in IDM or CIV?
"For 3 million a year I might think about it (laughs, ed.)."
Bulega: "Donington not favorable to Ducati? Neither was Cremona."
On the other side of the Aruba team garage, however, is Nicolò Bulega. The championship leader has an opposite contractual situation to that of Alvaro, having recently renewed with the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, which has also selected him as a tester for the new MotoGP prototypes ahead of 2027. However, at the moment, the top priority is in the SBK championship and that is to contain or avoid the comeback of a dominant Razgatioglu in Misano, where instead Nicolò achieved less than he expected.
"I'm feeling good for the weekend, we had a break a little too long for my liking, I'm happy to be back racing. I'm happy because the weather looks very good and it's a bit strange here in England. We are happy and I hope to do my best."
This historically is not one of the best tracks for Ducati, while Toprak has won there 9 times. You, however, made a double podium in your debut last year.
"History says this is not a favorable track for Ducati, but this year we saw that sometimes history is wrong. Cremona was not a track on which I thought I could do well but in the end I won three races, took pole and the track record and it was probably our best weekend of the year. This is another circuit like Cremona and we hope to repeat that."
In the second half of the season do you expect the duel with Razgatioglu to continue identical?
"We know that Toprak is very strong here and that he is working well with BMW. He is our strongest rival, I think we are also stronger this year. I just think about trying to be faster."
If Ducati and Bautista's paths were to part, would you prefer an experienced rider or a rookie, perhaps from Moto2, at your side next year?
"I don't think much about who could be my teammate, I have a good relationship with Alvaro. If Alvaro stayed with us next year I would be happy."