Alvaro Bautista claps back at Andrea Iannone's 'faster' claims for a second time since the Malaysian Grand Prix.
After the Malaysian Grand Prix, Andrea Iannone claimed to be 'faster' than Alvaro Bautista, who wildcarded at the event in 2023.
Bautista has jabbed back several times since these claims from the Italian, who appeared on a GP23 with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.
“Comparisons are never nice, and I'm sorry that Andrea wanted to compare himself to me since they were two very different situations,” Bautista told Motosprint.
“I don't know where he saw that he was faster than me since he did one lap less in the race. I just want to defend myself because it's not a good situation, and as I said we're talking about two different situations, also because I arrived in Sepang with a major shoulder injury.
"If he had done the tests he would have been faster, like me without injury, but with ifs and buts, you don't do much. If I had been born in Hollywood maybe now I am a famous actor, but I was born in Talavera and I am a rider!
“The numbers tell the truth, and I'm sorry for this comparison. I don't want controversy but only to defend myself: it's bullshit, but I didn't want it to end in a certain way.”
At the 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix Bautista was recovering from a shoulder injury when he made his one off Grand Prix appearance.
Bautista and Iannone both finished the Malaysian Grand Prix in 17th in 2023 and 2024.