Alvaro Bautista: “The victory was the result of that” / Superbike World Championship

Alvaro Bautista won the last eight races of the 2023 season last year he was on the podium 27 times in 36 races and became the Superbike World Champion for the second time.

Since the start of the season in Australia at the end of February, things have been improving for the Spaniard: in Phillip Island he was 15th, fourth and second, and in Barcelona he was third, third and first. Waiting six runs for victory was an unusually long spell for the 39-year-old.

Ahead of next weekend’s Assen race, the 60-time race winner is third overall with 75 points, twelve points behind the leader, fellow Aruban Nicolo Bulega.

“I had a difficult winter season because of my injury, so the victory in Barcelona was very important,” emphasized Bautista. “During winter testing I didn’t have a good feeling on the bike. Getting my good feeling back was the most important thing – and the victory was the result of that. That gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the World Cup. But Barcelona was Barcelona, ​​​​” Now we’re on a completely different path and in a completely different climate. So we’re starting all over again.”

The weekend forecast is bringing 10C to Assen with a mix of sun and clouds – there will be light rain on Friday and Saturday.

“The beginning of the season was difficult for me,” Bautista said at the TT Circuit on Thursday afternoon. “But that’s behind me, I hope that things will be easier for me from now on. I’m not talking about winning, but I’d like to at least have a good feeling on the bike and avoid any problems. This is the only way I can concentrate on my work, drive and enjoy the moment that.”