Amid speculation about his future, Alvaro Bautista remains entirely devoted to the 2024 WorldSBK season.
Alvaro Bautista has ascended to the top of the WorldSBK series leaderboard following another remarkable performance at Assen.
In the first race, Bautista secured a solid third-place finish, showcasing glimpses of his former dominance. However, it was in the Superpole Race where he truly shone, mounting a formidable late charge to blitz past his competitors and clinch victory.
Race 2 witnessed Bautista claiming the runner-up position, yielding only to Toprak Razgatlioglu, who secured his third win for BMW.
This continuation of Bautista’s resurgence follows his triumphant victory in Race 2 at Catalunya, marking his first WorldSBK win of the season.
Nevertheless, Bautista may rue relinquishing some of his earlier dominance at Phillip Island and Barcelona. Despite facing pre-season struggles due to a lingering shoulder injury and adjustments to meet new rider/bike weight regulations, Bautista has displayed unwavering determination, progressively strengthening with each race.
However, Ducati faces a quandary, as the potential retention of Bautista could lead to the departure of Andrea Iannone or prolong the decision-making process.
Iannone has acknowledged discussions regarding securing a factory ride, yet the uncertainty surrounding Bautista’s future leaves Ducati vulnerable to the possibility of losing both riders.
In anticipation of the Assen round, Bautista conveyed his focused mindset regarding his future: “Honestly, I don’t have anything on my mind about my future. It’s been very tough for me… I’m just focused on this and trying to be better and better. I’m not in a hurry to make a decision.”
Despite the uncertainties, Bautista remains committed to his present endeavors, driven by the sheer joy of riding and a relentless pursuit of improvement in the face of a fiercely competitive grid.
