Alvaro Bautista wants to stay in World Superbikes next year with Aruba.it Racing - Ducati and says negotiations are underway.
After the last World Superbike round in Most Alvaro Bautista told the media that he wanted to continue with Ducati. The two-time WorldSBK Champion does not believe he can end his career after what has been a difficult 2024 season.
Bautista won two WorldSBK Championships in a row with Ducati in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. However, 2024 has not been plain sailing for the Spaniard. After six rounds Bautista is third in the Championship behind his new team-mate Nicolo Bulega and Championship leader, Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Across the 18 races in 2024 Bautista has stood on the podium 10 times, but only two of these have been race wins.
Before the Portuguese round of the WorldSBK season, Bautista was asked more about his future in the paddock. Bautista did not shy away from talking about his future and started by saying the rumours in the media about his bike going to someone else are false:
"Well if you read all the media, social media and comments from everyone it is crazy," Bautista told WorldSBK.com. "One day I am already signed, the next day my bike is for another rider, and the next day we have agreed together, and then the next day we are not in the same agreement. It is crazy."
The 38-year-old went on to tell his side of the story and what he considers the truth about his negotiations with Ducati:
"The reality is we started to speak after Most, we are in negotiations, that is the reality. It is clear that I want the best for me and Ducati wants the best for them. We are not fighting, but we are speaking, so all you see on the social network is fake. At least we have spoken a lot. We are not signed, but we are on the way. Let's see."
