Retirement or carrying on? Bautista is preparing for every scenario

Since the introduction of a combined weight of bike and rider in the World Superbike Championship regulations three years ago, Álvaro Bautista has had to fit additional ballast to his Ducati. On top of that, he is struggling with a foot injury sustained by the 41-year-old in a crash during the first race at Most. Finishing ninth in the World Championship with just one podium finish, 2026 is set to be Bautista’s worst season with Ducati.

With his team, Barni Racing, having already extended Yari Montella’s contract by a year, the two-time Superbike World Champion is still left empty-handed for 2027. At the same time, numerous strong riders are queuing up to join team boss Marco Barnabo – not least Danilo Petrucci, with whom the Italian has a special relationship.

One thing is clear: Bautista needs a strong end to the season to secure a place on the grid for the 2027 Superbike World Championship! “I feel good physically and mentally and want to keep racing. I’m doing my best, but we’ll see what happens. Results are important if we’re to carry on; not just for me, but also for the team and the sponsors. I want to carry on and, until then, enjoy the final races of the season. After that, I don’t know if I’ll still have a place on the team in 2027. My manager is talking to Barni. It’s clear that we need results to carry on.”

One key factor for Bautista could be the switch from Pirelli to Michelin as the sole tyre supplier from 2027 onwards. “After Magny-Cours, we’ll be testing the Michelin tyres. I want to try them out to get a proper feel for them,” revealed the veteran rider. “If I don’t like them and I’m not competitive, I might decide to stay at home. But if I adapt well, I’d like to carry on. My priority is to stay in the World Superbike Championship. Should other offers come in, I’ll consider them.”