Alvaro Bautista Interview
Trev caught up with Alvaro Bautista at the 2016 Phillip Island MotoGP round.
Alvaro Bautista won the 2006 125cc Championship with Aspar, who he continued up into the 250cc class with, where he took runner up to Marco Simoncelli in 2008. It’s been confirmed Bautista will be racing in MotoGP for 2017 with Aspar Ducati.
You’ve spent a long time in MotoGP now, and you have good memories here at Phillip Island, 10 years ago you won the 125 cc World Championship here. So a long time in MotoGP and a whole lot of victories after you finished second in the 250s as well in 2008.
“Well it was like a dream come true, because I won the Championship, but at the end of the day it’s the past, so you have to think in the present and the future. Yeah, that moment was incredible for me and my family and my friends, but also in the 250s we did so well. And also in MotoGP I feel that I haven’t shown my real potential yet.
“It’s like when I started with Suzuki we spent two years working to the level of bike. Then with Honda I achieved some podiums but also with the different material from the Honda riders. Here with Aprilia, we are developing a completely new bike, so for me it’s like in MotoGP I made my mark.”
And next year you are on one of the better satellite bikes as such, as part of Ducati, and you have a good history with Aspar and a lot of the people who will still be in that team. So even though you’re part of a family here now, it’ll be a bit like a family homecoming next year as well
“Yeah, for sure. I have really good memories with the team – because we won the championship, we fought for the 250cc Championship, and also to go with a competitive bike, like the Ducati, is also good challenge.
“But for now am thinking about finishing this season with Aprilia and trying to leave their main factory team at the best level I can, so we’ll finish this season first and then we’ll see about the next one.”
Do you think the organisers are doing things well with the rules, as in restrictions that control the ECU this year, is it a step in the right direction?
“Well I don’t know if it’s in the right or in the wrong, but what I’ve seen this season is incredibly competitive out on the track, which is very good. We saw many, many race winners this season, that was never seen before in the MotoGP.
“So that means I think that it’s good for the show, especially for the first season where everything has to be put in order. Yeah, I think it has been a good move for this season.”
What do you do when you’re home? Tell us a little bit, do you still live where you grew up? Tell us about your home town.
“Where I live is a small town, of 100,000 people. I do like always trying to do my training, and I like to stay with my family. I have my three sisters and my family is quite big.
“I enjoy the free time with them. I train a lot from 10 years ago, when I won the 125cc Championship. Today I train and remain quiet, I like to be a very quiet guy, so I do normal things.”
Bautista will move on to the Aspar Ducati for the 2017 MotoGP season.
