Alvaro Bautista has spoken for the first time since officially becoming a Barni Ducati WorldSBK rider, and is optimistic about his first season on the team.

Bautista has so far only ridden for factory teams in WorldSBK: at Ducati in 2019 and then from 2022–2025, and at Honda from 2020–2021.

But the Spanish rider has experience in satellite teams from his MotoGP career, where he rode for the Gresini and Aspar teams.

He arrives at Barni as a two-time WorldSBK Champion, but with a winless spell extending back to Race 2 at the 2024 Aragon Round that he is surely aiming to end in the coming season, which – at least to begin with – will be one of substantial change for Bautista.

“I’m very excited about this new challenge,” said Bautista, speaking to WorldSBK.com.

“There will definitely be many changes, a new team and a new working group. 

“It won’t be easy at the start, but I believe with commitment and ambition everything is achievable. 

“I’m also very happy to join the Barni family because, from the outside, it feels like a very united team, constantly growing and increasingly competitive. Barni is someone who wants to win and is very determined, a great motivation for the riders. I believe we can do a great job together. 

“I feel very pumped, both physically and mentally, and I’m ready to give 100 per cent. 

“We need to work on finding the right feeling and understanding how to best manage the new bike. 

“Official Ducati support is also fundamental and adds great value. I’m very excited and hope that, together, we can achieve great results and positions, but above all, have fun doing our job.”

Barni Team Principal Marco Barnabo added that the arrival of Bautista is a source of pleasure for himself and the team.

“At the same time, we are extremely pleased to have brought a rider of Alvaro Bautista’s calibre into the team,” Barnabo said.

“A three-time World Champion, we are confident that we can achieve strong results with him and that his experience will help us grow further, taking another step forward in terms of competitiveness. 

“What I particularly admire about Bautista is his incredible determination and commitment, which he shows every single day despite having already achieved extraordinary success. It is truly an exemplary attitude. 

“He deserves to achieve excellent results, and we will work tirelessly to reach them together.”