It was a positive first day for Alvaro Bautista at Phillip Island, but his teammate is well and truly in control.

At the end of the opening day of the 2025 World Superbike season, Nicolo Bulega has flooded the headlines. However, his teammate, Alvaro Bautista, quietly got on with his work on Friday.

Bautista ended the day as the third fastest rider on the combined times from Free Practice One and Two. The Spaniard was 0.725 seconds slower than his teammate's fastest lap but is happy with his own work at Phillip Island.

"I think it has been a positive start to the season and a start to the weekend," Bautista told WorldSBK.com.

"I felt quite good on the bike, we worked hard in the test so the base setup was clear. The feeling on the bike was good so today I could concentrate on getting the small details correct that allow you to enjoy.

"I was really happy in the morning, I started Free Practice One very good, and suddenly I felt a good feeling with the bike.

"In the afternoon with more temperature on track, in the test, we did not try these hot conditions, we struggled with rear grip, especially at maximum angle. There were some places where the wind changed a bit and I felt it was more difficult. In the last sector I was losing a lot, the rest of the lap I felt strong but in the last two corners I did not feel so good.

"But in any case, the pace was not too bad. Maybe Nicolo [Bulega] is two steps ahead of the rest, but I felt good on the bike. So, for me the important thing is to get more and more confident, today I had a small crash at turn four but there were no consequences. It was a classic crash at that corner, you arrive at maximum angle and you lose the front."

Bautista's teammate was fastest in Free Practice One and Two on Friday and has a 0.406-second lead over the field. When asked about matching his teammate the 40-year-old claimed it would be 'stupid' to try and match him during Practice.

"We are in a different situation, he [Bulega] is at his best and he feels very good on the bike, he has a lot of confidence," Bautista stated.

"He is very strong at these sort of tracks like here [Phillip Island] and other fast tracks. I think he is a step ahead of everybody so it is stupid to think, at least today, about being with him."