WorldSBK: Alvaro Bautista: ‘It’s not a target to win three in a row'
Alvaro Bautista says he’s fully focused on himself ahead of defending his Wor⛄ldSBK title for the second consecutive season.
The two-time WorldSBK champion is the clear favouღrite heading into this season, however, the factory Duﷺcati rider is not thinking ahead.
Bautista was sensational in 2023, winning 27 out of a possible 37 races, but the motivation to continue dominating is somethi🍷ng that ‘I give to myself’, says the former MotoGP rider.
Bautista has the chance𝓀 to become Ducati’s first-ever three-time champion in succession, and speaking ahead of the Jerez test about his goals for 2024, Bautista kept the expectations low.
“The motivation is something I give to myself,” said Bautisꦏta at the official Ducati launch. “I want to keep e♑njoying the bike and my riding.
“👍I remember, I think this year, Ducati said, ‘nobody 🌺defended the title with Ducati and the #1’ and this year we did it.
“It’s not like a target to win three in a row. It’s to have a good feeling wiജth the bike, keep working how we did in the last two years.
“Only one rider ❀can win. We’ll try to be one of those fighting for that.”
Bautista is set to take part in both pre-season tests before the end of January, the first at Jerez ahead of another 🙈two-day outing at Portimao🌠.
Speaking ahead of his first appearance in 2024, Bautista added: “I’m so excite💖d because I want to check how my condition is riding the bike, and also with the new regulations, we ha❀ve a lot of work to do.
“We have to work a lot to find the best possible compromiseꦚ with the extra weight on the bike and try to get a good level of performance before the first race in Australia. A lot of change for this season.
“To see all the riders with their new machines will be really nice to see. I’m focused on myself. I🌃’m more worried about my work and feeling. That’s all.
“For sure, in the t💯est, wha🥂t we saw in the past is many riders going fast in cold conditions but, when the races arrive, they struggle.
“Tests are tests. I don’t like to see what the other riders are doing. I p♊refer to keep focused on myself, work as well as possible for racing. It’s always interesting to see the new changes on the grid.”
