Alvaro Bautista has hinted his choice of future beyond the 2023 WorldSBK Championship season will either be remaining with Ducati or hanging up his helmet.

Speaking ahead of the third round of the 2023 WorldSBK Championship at Assen, the Spaniard - who takes a 37 point lead into the opening race - comes to the end of his current contract with Aruba.it Ducati this season.

The ex-MotoGP rider has emerged as the dominant force of WorldSBK on the Ducati Panigale V4 R since returning to the manufacturer following a disappointing two-year stint with Honda.

Romping to the 2022 WorldSBK title, Bautista has collected 21 victories since his return, five of which have come in the opening six races of the season.

Looking forward, though Bautista says he hasn’t made a decision on his future as yet, he hints that it’s a choice between Ducati and spending more time with his family.

“I have a couple of choices, or I stay at home with my daughter,” he told the WorldSBK website. ”I want to be competing at the maximum level of motorcycling. 

“I will not stress so much now but in case I decide to keep racing, for sure I’d like to stay here with Ducati because it is the place I enjoy most. 

“I don’t have a clear decision yet, I have to see everything because it is not only racing, it is travel and everything - there are a lot of factors. I will decide soon.”