Alvaro Bautista's time with the factory Ducati squad came to an end at the season finale of the 2025 World Superbike Championship.
After four years back with the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati squad, Alvaro Bautista's big farewell to the factory Ducati team after an emotional 2025 season finale.
The 40-year-old spent five of his seven World Superbike seasons with the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati squad, and during his time with the team, he won two World Superbike titles, claimed 63 race wins, and 59 further podiums.
Bautista ended his time with the team at the 2025 Spanish World Superbike round, where he claimed a hat-trick of podiums at Jerez.
"Yeah, of course, of course, I am really pleased. We have ended the season with three podiums here; it is very special," an emotional Bautista told TNT Sports after taking three podiums at Jerez.
"For sure, these last two seasons have been very tough for me. But I never gave up, I always tried to give my best. For sure, sometimes I was faster and sometimes I was slower, but I always tried my best. I feel our performance is to fight for the victory, and not to fight for third. Thanks to my team, because like me, they never gave up. They always helped me try to find something to be competitive.
"Today has been a lot like my season; I had a lot of difficulties at the beginning, but I could match the pace to win. In any case, I am very proud of my work and my team's work. Now, will start a new chapter for me, let’s try to keep enjoying, because it is the reason I keep racing.
"I am enjoying the bike; the bike is my life. It is because of this that I keep racing. I will try to keep enjoying the bike, give the people a good show, and enjoy the new chapter."
'The important thing for me is to enjoy riding the bike...'
Despite being the oldest rider on the World Superbike grid for the 2026 season, Bautista will continue riding as he has signed for the Barni Spark Racing Team.
The two-time World Superbike Champion explained after the final race of the 2025 season that he continues to race because he 'enjoys riding the bike'.
"I love the bike, and if I want to keep racing, it is because I feel strong, and I feel I can win," he explained.
"For sure, it is not easy in this situation, but the problem is that I have a lot of love for the bike. For me I think it is better to stay at home with my family. I have had a lot of victories, I have won a lot of titles, but for me, results, victories, and titles are a consequence; the important thing for me is to enjoy riding the bike.
"It is my target to keep enjoying, but for sure, I feel that I can win. It is a bit frustrating that I cannot win, because I feel like I am doing my best. But you cannot see the real results of our performance. In any case, the situation is like this, we will keep pushing and try to be stronger next year."
