SBK, Bautista: the man to beat who has it all under control

In the crosshairs. That’s Alvaro Bautista who, like all current world champions, starts the new season with all eyes upon him. Those of his rivals for starters, who seek a magical formula with which to beat him after a 2022 in which Alvaro left them with nothing but crumbs, but also those of the fans and paddock staff, struck by a pairing – that of Bautista and the Panigale V4R – that has confirmed the enormous potential it only demonstrated in part in 2019.

And, last but not least, those of the FIM body that, despite controversy relating to the presumed advantage a lightweight Bautista and the powerful Panigale may have had, has decided to postpone the introduction of a minimum bike plus rider weight ruling, something that has further legitimised the Spaniard’s status as champion. A Spaniard who, having finished with the celebrations, has begun to work in preparation for 2023, already proving to be the strongest in testing and confirming just who is the man to beat heading into this new season, now underway at Phillip Island.

You already sent your rivals a strong message during testing, wouldn’t you say?

“When you’re in front it always sends a message to your rivals, but I’m more focused on the great work we’ve done with the team. We’ve been able to understand the bike, which is very similar to last year’s, and I’ve been able to harness all the experience gained in 2022. One year ago I was already quick but I still had a lot to understand, while now it all seems more under control. Test times are relative of course, as everyone follows their own work path, but it’s always positive when you’re quick, also because sooner or later everyone seeks performance during the day.”

How does the pre-2022 Bautista differ from today’s Bautista?

“Prior to the start of last season I was relaxed because I felt strong, but I was also lacking that confidence that only a title can give you. Now I feel similar to a year ago, but I’m working on details. I feel more confident, thanks also to the sensations we had in testing. Winning a title hasn’t taken a weight off my shoulder but it has given me different motivation. Last year I wanted to prove I was competitive, now I want to improve further as a rider and defend my title. Now I’m the man everyone wants to beat, so I’m in a different situation, but I feel relaxed and focused anyway.”

Bautista and the Ducati V4R, an almost perfect pairing

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Last year you often said that the crucial thing was to modify the setup of your V4R as little as possible. Will that also be the case in 2023?

“We’ve done some experimentation during testing, which is the time to do it, and I liked some things and didn’t like others. The base with which I’ll start the season will be the same I use all year, trying to maximise the strengths and minimize the weak points. We’ll maintain the 2022 philosophy, seeing as it paid off.”

The V4R appears close to perfection. Where can you still improve?

“There’s a lot of room for improvement when it comes to turning the bike off the throttle, but I think the current behaviour of the bike is part of the character of the Ducati. The work we’ve done on the engine has paid off as delivery now allows you to have more control, but it’s not the perfect bike. Having said that, she and I do make a good couple (he smiles)”.

SBK and MotoGP progress at similar pace

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Do you think the progress Ducati has made in MotoGP has also facilitated development in Superbike?

“I think development of the two bikes moves forward in parallel. It’s easier to make big changes in MotoGP, while in SBK you need a totally new bike. In our case, the new bike has allowed us to change the engine.  Gigi (Dall’Igna) heads up development of both bikes, so everything learned in one paddock is transferred to the other, if deemed useful.”

Do you still plan to test the Desmosedici?

“I’d like to, but we still need to put it into practice. It would be great to use carbon brakes again, feel the power and experiment with the new features introduced in recent years, to understand how much the MotoGP has changed since I switched championships.”

Back to the current season. What is a world champion’s nemesis when they start the season as favourite?

“I’m just focusing on enjoying the moment to be honest. I want to make the most of every moment in the saddle, seeing as I’m no longer a rookie. In the last years of my career, I just want to focus on twisting the throttle as hard as I can. I’m not too worried about anything else.”

After the head-to-heads with Rea and Razgatlioglu in 2022, do you plan to be more aggressive?

“In sport, I think you need to be fast but also cunning. Head-to-heads are not my forte so it’s not a good idea to go to war in that way. I can try to fight, but if I can avoid it all the better, as it would be counterproductive. For those watching, it’s great to see battles of course, but I’m aware that out of ten head-to-heads, I’d win only won, so I need to shift the duel onto ground that suits me better”.

Rinaldi, Petrucci and more

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Rinaldi has recently started working with your trainer. What do you think about that?

“Michael appreciated my work method and so has decided to try it. I think it’s a good thing, he wants to try and arm himself with an extra weapon. It’s a long process, we’ll see if it works for him. I’m pleased he wants to follow me, I’m honoured.”

Do you think he can be a title contender?

“He’s definitely moving in on me, Rea and Razgatlioglu, and you can easily see that he’s gained in confidence. Having a team-mate of similar build to him has helped him from a technical standpoint. He’s not short on potential, so I’m sure we’ll both be fighting for the top positions.”

Did it surprise you to see Petrucci so up and down in testing?

“I don’t know, I saw little of him on track. Jerez and Portimao are two very different tracks for example, and perhaps his lack of experience at the second didn’t help. I remember the first time I rode the Superbike at Portiamo, in 2019, it took me two days just to understand which way the track went. But we all know Danilo – winning the title might be difficult, but he has the potential and will definitely be quick.”

A hope ahead of the new season? Aside from defending your title?

“I just want to enjoy myself for now. I can’t wait to start the championship. Testing is great, but the adrenaline of the races is something else and I think I can still improve as a rider.”