Alvaro Bautista, Great return to MotoGP as Wild Card for Ducati
The world of racing is an endless source of surprises and twists: MotoGP does not disappoint, offering fans a spectacular return to the most prestigious stage.
Alvaro Bautista, the reigning WorldSBK champion, will take to the track as a Wild Card for the Ducati Aruba.it team at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Wearing the Motostorm colours on his helmet, the rider is ready to put on a show; after two Wild Card appearances at Mugello and Misano, Ducati has decided to entrust the Spanish champion with the Sepang race, a legendary circuit that has often played a decisive role in MotoGP championships.
Recent tests with the Ducati Desmosedici GP 23 confirmed Bautista's participation, marking his stylish return to MotoGP, his first race in the series since 2018.
Alvaro's return to MotoGP has created excitement amongst the fans. Bautista's MotoGP career has seen its share of ups and downs, his recent World Superbike Championship successes have reignited interest in a rider who has written important chapters in the 125cc and 250cc classes, as well as in MotoGP.
Bautista boasts an impressively long MotoGP career spanning 17 seasons, during which he clinched the 125cc World title, secured fourth and second places in the 250cc World Championship, and competed in several premier-class GPs.
After eight years in MotoGP he moved to WorldSBK, where he enjoyed unexpected success, winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 to equal the record of the last Ducati rider to do so, Carl Fogarty.
The decision to return to MotoGP under these circumstances was not as straightforward as one might assume. Alvaro himself revealed that the choice to race at Sepang was inspired by his great performances during testing, particularly after the conclusion of the SBK World Championship, which opened the door for his comeback. While excited about participating in this race, Bautista emphasized that his primary commitment will always be to the Superbike World Championship.
Here are the Spanish rider's words: "I am really happy to be able to ride the Wild Card at the Malaysian GP, a track I like a lot and where I am happy to be back, as it is not on the Superbike calendar. The tests with the Desmosedici GP 23 have been positive, the feeling with the bike has been good and I would like to thank Ducati and Aruba.it for this opportunity.
Bautista's appointment in Malaysia is eagerly awaited. There is a great deal of curiosity, fuelled by the question on everyone's lips: what surprises will he have in store for us at the Sepang circuit?
At 38 years of age, Bautista is in better shape than ever. Driven by his competitive spirit, he is ready to give his all and is determined to show everyone what he is still worth.
It's a wonderful sight to see him with the Motostorm.it logo on his helmet. We are extremely proud to support a motorsport champion.
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