SBK: who will flank Bautista in 2024? Dall'Igna takes his time

The countdown to Misano is on, the Superbikes gearing up for round five of the season that will see the production-derived bikes battling it out at the track dedicated to Marco Simoncelli. Alvaro Bautista will arrive in Emilia Romagna fortified by the 236 points he’s scored over the first four rounds of 2023, 69 more than Toprak Razgatlioglu, who will leave Yamaha for BMW come the end of the year.

Results that have Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna smiling, in that it was he who pushed for Bautista to return to the Panigale in 2022, a decision that over the 2022-2023 period is definitely paying off.

Dall'Igna lauds Bautista

“Every time I see a race with Alvaro, he makes me happy”, admitted Dall’Igna while talking to the official WorldSBK website, lauding the results of his #1. “I honestly couldn’t ask for more. I’m really pleased with the feeling Alvaro has with the bike and, thanks to his style, he’s able to work really well with all of us. Working with him is very easy. I can’t ask for more”.

High praise indeed, that reinforces a partnership that will continue on in 2024, with Alvaro set to remain exactly where he is aboard the Bolognese bike. But what about his team-mate? Dall’Igna is taking his time and reveals nothing about who this might be: “We don’t know, I think we’re in a position that allows us to wait a while.”

Bautista’s team-mate? Dall'Igna plays for time

As to the possible renewal of Michael Rinaldi’s contract, Dall’Igna is giving nothing away: “We’re pleased and can wait a little to understand what will happen. During the season we might find that we need to change something, or perhaps not. Right now, we have nothing on the table.”

The Ducati camp can afford to take its time and weigh up its options, while Axel Bassani, Johann Zarco, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli all look on.