Catalunya WorldSBK: Jonathan Rea: ‘Atmosphere has soured’ with Alvaro Bautista, ‘I have to fight so hard’

In what was by far the biggest incident of the 2022 WorldSBK season thus far, Rea and Bautista’s🀅 coming-togethe🌠r in race two at Magny-Cours resulted in reigning champion 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Toprak Razgatlioglu taking a comfortable second win of the weekend.
But while it was a missed opportunity for Bautista, who had shown the pace needed to fight Razgatlioglu throughout the weekend, the bigger impact was to his championship lead after a n💯ear 60-point advantage was reduced to 30.
Strong words were used by both in the aftermath, especially from Bautista as the Spaniard called 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Rea ‘not a real champion’.
And having t🐲ime to let things settle, animosity remains there as Rea alluded to the atmosphere between them being ‘soured’ as a result of the comments made from Bautista and Ducati.
"On the incident with Bautista, from my side, nothing will change because I have to fight so hard to be there in this incredible battle right now with two other strong rivals, but of course the ﷽atmosphere has soured a bit with a lot of things being said in the aftermath and in the heat of the moment," said Rea.
"There’s a point when yo🦋u’re overtaking a rider and in this kind of instance, there’s a point of impact and you have to brace as the guy on the inside; this was the clear movement, not an intentional punt.
"He knows this. Right now, the championship is so competitive with different manufacturers that we need to step up; the team know that and we’re wo𒅌rking really hard to try and do that."
Perhaps not helping the situation, Rea wa♔s seen following Bautista very closely during today’s FP1 session in Catalunya before attempting an overtake at turn ten.
The Kawasaki rider ran wide as a result as B൩autista ultimately got back ahead.
Having his say on the matter heading into the weekend, Bautista said the past will remain the 🎶past, although ‘Jonathan and I were not the best of friends’ anyway.

Bautista added: "There’s no special relationship; he told me his point of view and I told him mine, but that’s all. Races are races and the past is the past. Jonathan and I were not the best friends of the paddock so the relationship will stay the same! 💝;
"Sincerely, the approach for the final part of the season doesn’t change for Toprak’s points gap; I know the last𓄧 three rounds have been the most difficult tracks. I have to be focused, try and do my best and I think the next tracks will be nice for us. “I’m quite calm and focussed on the bike and my work."
Bautista ‘happy’ to see Rinaldi remains his WorldSBK team-mate in 2023
Between the Magny-Cours round and Catalunya, Aruba.it Ducati confirmed 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Michael Ruben Rinaldi as their second rider for the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:2023 WorldSBK Championship, a move Bautista is very happy with.
"For Michaꦆel staying, I’m so happy for him," stated Bautista. "He’s a very talented rider, he’s very young and improving a lot during this season.
"He had a difficult start but then began being more consistent🍬 and competitive; we have a similar riding style which is easier for 🅠the engineers, so I am happy for him, and I look forward to fighting in the next races and next year for victories with him."