Alvaro Bautista close to winning the SBK World Championship. Ducati could do an encore with the MotoGP class and Pecco Bagnaia.
For Ducati, 2022 could be a year to frame, with the MotoGP and SBK world titles in its sights. In the series-derived championship, the outcome in favor of the Red is almost obvious, except for twists and turns in the last three rounds of the WorldSBK. Thanks to Alvaro Bautista and the top management of Borgo Panigale who bet without hesitation on the return of the Spanish driver, after the missed coup in 2019.
After two unexciting years with Honda, he returned to the Panigale V4R and is one step away from his first world title won in 2006 in the 125cc class. The victory in race 2 in Portimao allowed him to hold off the advance of Toprak Razgatlioglu three races from the end of the championship: the Turkish Yamaha champion chases 56 points away and finds it difficult to climb to the top. Nothing to do even for Jonathan Rea, struggling with a much less powerful Ninja on the straight.
Bautista and Ducati one step away from history
The team driver will be in the Portuguese appointment Aruba.it Racing Ducati he collected two second places and a victory, climbing to 448 in the standings. He can look forward to the last three stages in Argentina, Indonesia and Australia with a certain optimism, being able to count on tire management that often proves to be the winning weapon for winning victories and important points. It is also true that he has created perfect harmony with the Ducati Panigale, thanks also to its low weight which allows him to make a difference in acceleration and top speed.
In Borgo Panigale they did a good job, but also in case of victory in the SBK World Championship Alvaro Bautista has specific requests to make: “The MotoGP prototype seems to have become easier to ride than several years ago and there are many riders who win on the Desmosedici, while in Superbike I only win. Everyone says it’s thanks to Ducati, but you have to look at everything, not just the rider who wins“.
There are already some requests for the men in red, which will have to be worked on during the winter break. “I would like to improve the acceleration phase, because I feel that in that phase the bike is very light, more stability is needed and it is the biggest problem. I have already discussed it with Gigi Dall’Igna, he calls me after every race, every test and he knows what I think“, Commented Alvaro Bautista.
