Alvaro Bautista to return to MotoGP? Gigi Dall'Igna comments

As we wait for the MotoGP action to resume at Assen, the hot topic right now is the test that Ducati has arranged for Alvaro Bautista, the Spaniard able to ride the Desmosedici GP23 as a prize for the WorldSBK title he won in 2022.

The test is taking place at Misano under the watchful eye of Ducati Corse General Manager, Gigi Dall’Igna, who issued a brief comment about the session to the WorldSBK website .

Gigi Dall'Igna comments on Alvaro Bautista’s test

"Alvaro is a great rider. On Tuesday morning (the first day of the test, which continues on Wednesday 21 June) he was fast and we’re happy, but looking at the lap times is not our goal – begins Dall’Igna – I’m pleased to see him here having fun on the bike, and this is what counts.”

This two-day session has allowed the Spaniard to get back on the Ducati MotoGP for the first time since 2018: “Back then Bautista was riding a Desmosedici in the old configuration, so he was interested to see what’s changed in the last few years” highlights Dall’Igna, before touching on the rumours regarding a possible MotoGP wildcard for the current dominator of WorldSBK.

Alvaro Bautista, Gigi Dall'Igna does not rule out a wildcard

"A wildcard before the end of 2023? It’s honestly too early to know”, states Dall’Igna. “The season is really long, and we will probably arrive at the end really exhausted. We will see. This is not our target at the moment. For sure, I think that he could do quite well with the bike but honestly, I don’t want to think too much about that. I would like to see him smiling when he jumps off the bike and that’s it” concludes Dall’Igna.

We will just have to wait and see then, while Bautista makes the most of this test-prize before returning to WorldSBK at Donington over the weekend of 30 June - 2 July.