MotoGP: Bautista, “The Ducati is not as difficult to manage as I expected”

Álvaro Bautista MotoGP Aspar Ducati – After the renewal of the contract announced yesterday (here you will find the details) the Spanish rider, 125cc world champion in 2006, is ready to continue the season with fewer worries.

The contract renewal came after 9 races, in which the best result was ninth place in Argentina. But the choice to remain with Martinez's team was not so obvious, in fact, there was already talk of his possible return to Aprilia, the team with which he raced for 2 years. Different the reasons that convinced Alvaro to stay in Aspar: “In my opinion we had a good first part of the season, I feel comfortable with the team and we are working well together.” Said Bautista, who then added: “The Aspar team combines professionalism with a family atmosphere. they have a very high technical level. I'm really enjoying myself on the bike, I feel comfortable and able to fight for better results, I think that with this team I have the chance to continue competing at a high level.”

The Spanish driver then made a balance of the first half of the season: “I think we could have had some better results during the first half of the season, but we crashed in a few races. Our potential is higher than the current one in the championship. Now we need to focus on not repeating the same mistakes and improving each time to close the gap to the riders in front. Each of the nine races had its positive sides, we all got to know each other better and we are working with the bike to find a base that allows me to feel at home and that works at every circuit."

Talking about the second half of the season, and the objectives to be achieved between now and the end of the year, ha detto: “I think our goal is the same as before, to continue working as we have done up to now and give 100 percent to try to be close to the top five. I have said many times that it is difficult because of the number of factory bikes and the level of this championship, which is incredible, we are all very close, but this is our goal and this is what we will fight for in each of the remaining nine races. ”

Bautista currently he rides a Ducati GP16, totally different from his "old" Aprilia. She therefore had to change her style, but it doesn't seem like she encountered any major difficulties: “Its main strength is the engine but I also like the chassis. When everything is in place, it's a really fun bike to ride: aggressive but smooth, I try not to overwork the electronics, and let it slide through corners. It's the whole package, because when you're exiting corners and you feel the power, it's incredible. It's a complete bike, perhaps not as difficult to manage as I expected it to be having heard the words of other riders, but if you manage to find the right set up you'll have a lot of fun.”

Next year the Spaniard will drive the GP17, the same bike that the official team uses this year, so a slight change in style will also be necessary for 2018, which however does not worry the rider who prefers to focus on the rest of the season first: “Well, there's a lot to do before then, a lot of races on the GP16. I have to get all the potential out of my current bike, then next year I'll think about the GP17. Taking into account the results so far this season, with two victories, it is obviously the sister bike to the GP16 but improved in some areas. I don't think my relationship with the GP17 will be too different from the GP16.

There are still several days of vacation left before returning to the track, for the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic in Brno. Alvaro, however, tries to enjoy himself to the fullest the last days of rest: “It's important to unplug. June was very intense, with four races very close together. July is the time to rest and recharge your batteries. I will try to train hard and make sure I get back to a good physical level because there isn't much rest until the end of the season. Also, I'm getting married in December, my friends threw a party. They haven't told me anything yet but when it comes we'll have fun, even if I can't exaggerate because I have to stay in shape!”