Alvaro Bautista was his usual smiling self all through the Assen WorldSBK race weekend but on Sunday, after securing a top five in race Tto, he detailed why he feels that there is no realistic chance for a podium this year, and why he keeps crashing when he tried to lift his CBR1000RR-R to the level of the other top riders.
Falls in race one and the Superpole race gave him no points at all, but he recovered well to finish fifth in race two.
“I’m a bit pissed off because I think yesterday and this morning the race could be like race two. My pace was the same and I think in both races I can fight for top six, top seven. For sure it's not what we want, but better than crash," he told bikesportnews.com at the track.
The Honda’s limit appears to be that Bautista cannot find the limit without actually crashing, and next time out there is still no warning as the limit approaches.
“Today it was difficult because after two crashes it was important to finish the race and try to get again the confidence. At the beginning, I did a good start but the first laps I was quite calm just to check the race condition.
"Then I start to get my pace, without trying to pass the limit. Every time that I - not try to pass the limit - but just trust in the bike to do the things without riding with a bit of warning - it happens the same - I crash.
"So, in race two today, I tried to don’t relax on the bike and deal with the warning and not riding naturally. But right now it’s the situation we have and I have to ride like this. Anyway, I’m happy because at the end, we finished in the top five. I lost a lot of time with Rinaldi behind him. I think we were able to catch Davies. In any case, after yesterday and this morning, it has been a good end of the weekend.”
The main problem for Bautista, who did get to take the Honda to a podium last year, is that he sees no sign of it happening this year. He feels they are working hard to stand still, the others are moving on. And there are lots of podium capable packages in WorldSBK now, but not his.
“No, I think you have to put many conditions together, and I don't think that we can find this condition,” explained Bautista. “Many riders are fighting for the podium. If one day one rider makes a mistake, there is another rider. If not, another rider. If not, another rider.
So, it’s more difficult to fight for a podium than last season, for example, because I think our performance is quite similar to last season but there more riders in-between. So, right now, with the rules we have in the championship, it’s difficult to make a big step forward to fight for the podium.
"All we can do is just make small things, just putting everything in the right, right, right, place, but many times because we want to try something that helps us to make a big step forward… maybe we make two steps back. It’s very complicated. We have for sure more races and we will work. We never stop working. I will give all my best to get the maximum.”
It is obviously very easy for Bautista to over-step the mark and fall, and a lack of feedback in the reason.
“It is strange because it seems like when I am alone on practice, I can get the rhythm, but it’s like I push without feedback,” said Bautista. “I don't know where the limit is. So, during all the year I try to do the same as in the races.
"Last season I did many crashes because I just trust in the bike and boom! Crash! Yesterday was the first time that I trust in the bike and - how to say - let’s ride not thinking about I cannot pass from here… and I crashed. It's strange because it’s like the bike at this moment doesn’t give me the feedback or the feeling that the limit is there.
"I ride like this because I do many laps, but more than that I don’t feel it to do it. The times that I do it, I crash. So that means that the limit is there, but we don’t have the feedback.”
Bautista is obviously not alone in struggling on the full HRC Honda, with Leon Haslam finishing eighth, 12th and tenth at Assen.
