Alvaro Bautista isn’t giving up: “We’ve got ideas, I’m in better shape”

When it emerged following Alvaro Bautista’s crash in the third free practice session on Saturday morning (16 May) at Most that he had sustained multiple fractures to his right ankle and heel bone, experts anticipated he would be sidelined for several weeks – or even months. The Spaniard underwent surgery on 18 May, and on the last weekend of May he was back on his Barni-Ducati at MotorLand Aragón, heroically finishing in the top eight twice on one of his favourite circuits.

Two weeks later at Misano, the 41-year-old found it tougher going; although physically in better shape, he also had his fair share of bad luck. After a disappointing qualifying session and starting from 17th on the grid, a ninth-place finish in the first race was his only points-scoring result on the Adriatic coast, earning him seven World Championship points.

Ahead of the races at Donington Park this coming weekend, the Spaniard has 99 points to his name and is therefore eighth overall, whilst his Barni team-mate Yari Montella sits in third place with 170 points. The 26-year-old Italian is thus the ‘best of the rest’ behind the outstanding Ducati factory duo of Nicolo Bulega and Iker Lecuona, who have bagged first and second places in every race except the season opener in Australia at the end of February. Bulega has been unbeaten since October 2025 and has already racked up an incredible 25 consecutive victories. Montella is highly motivated: at his home race in Misano, he has finished third three times and has already extended his contract with Team Barni Spark Ducati until the end of 2027.

That’s the only way I can concentrate on riding without having to think about the injury.

Alvaro Bautista

Alvaro Bautista in much better shape

Two-time Superbike champion Bautista isn’t currently competing at the top level – partly because he still has to add extra weight to his bike – but he’s arriving at Donington “in much better physical shape”, as he himself says. “Last week’s test in Cremona went very well, and I finally felt comfortable on the bike again with my foot. It’s important to be 100 per cent fit again, because that way I can concentrate fully on riding without having to think about the injury. Donington is a very demanding circuit with uphill and downhill sections, fast and slow corners, hard braking points and sections where it’s crucial to maintain good cornering speed. It’s a difficult circuit, but one I’ve always enjoyed. My aim remains to rediscover the feel for the bike that I’ve been lacking so far. We have a few ideas that we hope will help us take a step forward – both in terms of confidence and performance.”

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