Superbike is heading into its longest break of the season, but Alvaro Bautista is very much keeping his mind on the job. After the Most round, the Spaniard was out at Misano for a second test aboard the Ducati Desmosedici, this time in the role of test rider. Following on from that, the Spaniard got to thinking seriously about the future.
The future in the sense of the opportunity to compete in a MotoGP race as a wildcard. A decision that became an increasing possibility lap after lap at Misano, with the Spaniard able to set interesting lap times that would have allowed him to be competitive in the top class, despite his last MotoGP appearance dating back to 2018.
Bautista at Sepang: potential to be discovered
The choice inevitably fell to those races that will come after the end of the Superbike season, with a preference for Sepang, a track the Spaniard has always enjoyed. After reflecting on things for a few days, Alvaro has decided to do it. And so it is that Bautista will return to the top class aboard a Desmosedici GP23 in team Aruba colours, the third wildcard appearance of the season for the bike after Michele Pirro competed with it at Mugello and Misano.
“I'm really happy to be able to race in MotoGP as a wildcard at Sepang, a track that I really like and that I'm happy to be back at since it's not on the WorldSBK calendar”, comments Bautista. “The tests with the Ducati Desmosedici GP gave positive feedback: the feeling was good, and I had fun.”
“This MotoGP race will be a bonus for me and not a priority. That's why we must stay focused on the WorldSBK Championship, which is the only thing that matters now”, continues the Spaniard. “I want to stay focused for this last part of the season, which will be very demanding, with many races in a short time. Then, when the season ends, we'll think about going to Malaysia and having fun.”