For many years, the MotoGP paddock was Alvaro Bautista’s second home. In the 2002 season, the Spaniard made his world championship debut racing in the 125cc class at the time. Four years later, the Talavera de la Reina rider won the title in the cadet class of the world championship, moving to what was at the time the 250cc. After three seasons in the intermediate class, his path led him to make his MotoGP debut on a Suzuki.
In fact, from 2010 to 2018, Bautista was regularly on the starting grid of the premier class, but in 2019 he switched to production derivatives, making his debut in the world championship with Ducati. But is Superbike really just a Serie B championship as often considered by many? Alvaro Bautista responds in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com.
“It is not Serie B, it is simply a different championship. MotoGP is the premier class, the bikes are prototypes. This is where new technologies are created. In the Superbike World Championship we use production derivatives, here the technological innovations. come later. World Superbike life is different. But my way of working, preparing at home or on the track, is the same. The only difference is that this paddock is much more relaxed and accessible. It is friendlier, too. if the competition is fierce “.
More pressure in MotoGP, more strenuous weekends in Superbike
Bautista points out the main differences between MotoGP and Superbike, with the latter requiring a lot of work for the riders: “In MotoGP there is more pressure. It is still a question of points. On the other hand, in Superbike the environment is more relaxed, less pressure is felt. But race weekends are more tiring here in Superbike. There is a tight program already from Saturday with free practice, Superpole and the race. It’s difficult, especially mentally “.
The Spaniard, who raced with Suzuki, Honda, Aprilia and Ducati in MotoGP explains in detail the comparison between MotoGP and Superbike when it comes to tackling the weekend on the track: “If you have a good race on Saturday, you still can’t relax because there are two other races on Sunday. On the other hand, it is possible to compensate in some way for a bad race on Saturday the following day ”.
Is the level in World Superbike good enough?
In his Superbike debut with Ducati, Bautista surprised by conquering eleven wins in the first part of the season and in fact confirmed the opinion of those who criticize the world championship of production derivatives, considering it not a high-level category. But this assessment is far too simplistic and in reality it is not that easy.
Bautista explains: “When I arrived in World Superbike, I had a competitive bike with which I was able to show my potential. So I was able to fight for the victories. The level of the riders here is also very high. In MotoGP there are perhaps four or five absolute top riders. But I believe that a top rider in World Superbike may be able to fight for the top 5 places in MotoGP ”.
Alvaro Bautista, Aruba.It Racing
Photo by: Aruba.it Racing
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