WorldSBK: Alvaro Bautista: ‘It’s not a target to win three in a row'
Alvaro Bautista says he’s fully focused on himself ahead of defending his WorldꦰSBK title for the second consecutive season.
The two-time WorldSBK champion is the clear favourite heading into this season, however, the factory Ducati rider is ꦅnot thinking ahead.
Bautista was sensational in 2023, winning 27ꦰ out of a possible 37 races, but the motivation to continue dominating is something that ‘༺I give to myself’, says the former MotoGP rider.
Bautista has the chance to become Ducati’s first-ever three-time champion in succession, and speaking ahead of the Jerez te✤st about his goals for 2024, Bautista kept the ⛎expectations low.
“The motivation is something I g𒀰ive to myself,” said Bautista at the official Ducati launch. “I want to keep enjoying the bike and my riding.
“I remember, I think this year, Ducไati said, ‘nobo▨dy defended the title with Ducati and the #1’ and this year we did it.
“It’s not like a target to win three in a row. It’s to have a good feeling with the bike, keep working how we did in the l🔴ast two yearꦕs.
“Only one rider can win. We’ll 𒆙try to be one of those fightin🐓g for that.”
Baut🧜ista is set to take part in both pre-season tests be🔴fore the end of January, the first at Jerez ahead of another two-day outing at Portimao.
Speaking ahead of his first appearance in 2024, Bautista added: ꩲ“I’m so excited because I want to check how my condition is riding the bike, and also with the new regulations, we have a lot of work to do.
“We have to work a lot to find the best possible compromise with the extra weight on the bike and try to get a good level of pe🐈rformance before the✤ first race in Australia. A lot of change for this season.
“To see all the riders with their new machines♊ will be really 🍨nice to see. I’m focused on myself. I’m more worried about my work and feeling. That’s all.
“For sure, in the test, what we saw in the p🍎ast is many riders going fast in cold conditions but, when th♔e races arrive, they struggle.
“Tests are tests. I don’t like to see what the other riders are doing. I prefer to keep focused on myself, work ꦡas well as possible for racing. It’s always interesting to see the new changes on the grid.”
