Álvaro Bautista (Ducati) on the eve of retirement: “Proud of what I’ve achieved”

At 41, Álvaro Bautista is the oldest rider in the 2026 Superbike World Championship, and it looks set to be the two-time world champion’s (2023 and 2024) final season. According to information from SPEEDWEEK.com, Xavi Vierge – currently under contract with the Pata Maxus Yamaha works team – will ride for Barni Racing next year. As things stand, Bautista is not signed to any team

Bautista had been given a heads-up after recently sitting down with team boss Marco Barnabo for a frank discussion. “We trust each other, and it’s best to be honest. I told him how I felt, and he explained the situation to me, and well… For both of us, this year’s results were clearly not what we’d expected,” the Spaniard told SPEEDWEEK.com reporter Manuel Pecino. “I came here with the aim of competing at the very front, and they signed me up to compete at the very front. But well, we’ve ended up in this situation, yet neither of us has backed down, and we’re working flat out to get back to the front.”

Bautista hoped that the Ducati customer team would wait until September before making a decision. The Michelin test in Cremona was intended to give both parties clarity as to whether continuing the partnership held any promise of success. “I’ve asked Barni to wait a little longer until we see how the Michelin tyres feel, and then we’ll decide,” explained the 41-year-old. “Imagine if I don’t understand these tyres or don’t like them – or the exact opposite. If we do the test with Michelin and I like them, then we’ll just take it from there. It wouldn’t be decisive, but it would be very important. Because it will be essential to understand whether I can be competitive or not.”

Now it seems the decision has already been made. Bautista is at peace with himself. “I’m proud and satisfied with everything I’ve achieved in my sporting career,” emphasised the 63-time Superbike winner. “I don’t have to, as people like to say, drag myself around the racetracks. I’m the first to say I don’t want that.”