Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista speaks during a press conference held in Doha yesterday, ahead of the FIM World Superbike season finale.
Former MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista of Spain will attempt to outpace arch-rival and points leader Jonathan Rea of Britain when the 2020 WorldSBK season kicks off in February next year.
After a blistering start to his debut WorldSBK season this year, Bautista tapered off somewhat in the second half to arrive for this week’s final round of the Championship trailing Kawasaki giant Rea by a staggering 141 points.
“We did well in the first half of the season, we did well. In the second half, he (Rea) was able to get more points as we had bad luck. It was pleasant to fight against the best. Sure I will try to beat him next time,” Bautista, 34, said yesterday.
“For next season, I will be more sure and more precise,” he said.
“I will try - at least - to win the championship next year,” Bautista said.
“At the end, I think, we missed the experience with the bike and with the championship. More than they won the championship, (it was that) we lost the championship. They got the maximum from each moment,” the Spaniard added.
Excerpts from a Q&A session with the Ducati star:
Question: How does it feel to be on the WorldSBK circuit for the first time?
Answer: Yes, this is my first season in Superbike. I am happy with the results. I am second in the championship. We established ourselves well in a lot of races. Then we arrived at tracks that we didn’t know. There was a bit of bad luck at some races. It was not my fault but this is racing. But I would like to finish well in Qatar. I know this circuit well. I have contested here in 250 and 125 also. I won here in 125. I look forward to racing. It will be a big different from MotoGP. I hope to finish the season with points.
Q: What is your opinion about the night race in Qatar?
A: I have raced here in the night before. My first impression (then) was that when I was taking corners, I saw shadows and I thought somebody was trailing me. Always the shadows made me believe there were a lot of riders near me (smiles). I was always looking back but then I got used to it. At the end it is very similar to racing during the day. You are focused on riding and you have to see the track only. The visibility is nice and the track is easy (in Qatar). The only difference is that you see more of the track as there is less distraction (from a day race). I have raced here in March and there is humidity. The track in the evening here is different to what it is in the morning.
Q: What is the main difference between MotoGP and WorldSBK?
A: The difference is big. Especially when you are riding in MotoGP, you just have to race and try to win. In MotoGP the bike is built just to race. In Superbike, the bike is there to be used in all conditions in all tracks. When I joined Superbike I didn’t know much about the bike. I didn’t know the tyres. I didn’t know many tracks. In MotoGP, there is only one race on Sunday that you are trying to win. If you win, you celebrate until the next race. If you don’t win, you try to be better in the next race. I didn’t expect to win so many races. From that aspect, the 2019 season has been positive. But for sure, after this season I will try - at least - to win the championship next year.
Q: How was it like competing with Jonathan Rea?
A: For sure, the fight against the best Superbike rider is not easy. What I saw was at first half of the season, he has a lot of experience on his bike. He knows the championship, he knows his team, he knows his bike. They work together. They get maximum from each condition. For us, it was new. We did not have reference from previous seasons. Sometimes it was easier and sometimes we had problems. At the end, I think, we missed the experience with the bike and with the championship. More than they won the championship, (it was that) we lost the championship. They got the maximum from each moment. He has a lot of experience. We did well in the first half of the season, we did well. In the second half, he was able to get more points as we had bad luck. It was pleasant to fight against the best. Sure I will try to beat him next time.
Q: What about your team?
A: I am super happy with my team. At the moment I am very focused and I want the best possible result from the last round. That’s my main target. But at the start of the season, I did not have experience and now I do. I have spent time on the bike and I have more experience. There will be less things to learn next year. Hopefully I will have more understanding of the championship. For next season, I will be more sure and more precise.
Q: How was the season for you, mentally and physically, since you have raced the most races at any level this season?
A: Physically it was tough but it was tougher mentally. In MotoGP, you prepare for the race on Sunday. And after the race, if you get a good result, you are happy and you can celebrate. And if there is a bad result, you get motivated for the next round. In Superbike, your first race is on Saturday. If you get a good result and that makes you happy but you can’t celebrate (smiles). You have to get ready and concentrate for the next day. Again you have the Superpole race in the morning and then you have to be ready. You win but still can’t celebrate. You have to keep same level of concentration. That’s the difference. It is very difficult as you don’t have that much of time. You have to be very precise with your timing.
Q: From next year, there will be races for new young riders? How do you see that?
A: When I was in that age, I did something similar in Spain. But to make a category for young riders to get the same experience is very positive. To get all the young riders compete is very good. It is very positive for our sport.
