Alvaro Bautista, while in Magny-Cours for his WSBK race, closely watched the events in Misano, the circuit that hosted the San Marino Grand Prix. This race marked Dani Pedrosa’s second participation in a MotoGP competition. The results were excellent, and Bautista, the current Ducati World Champion in the production bike category, took note. The Spanish rider will make a wild-card appearance in Sepang during the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix.
Initially, Bautista’s entry as a wild-card was meant to be a celebratory gesture, a reward for achieving a world title that Ducati had been pursuing since 2011. However, Pedrosa’s exceptional performance, which included two fourth-place finishes in the Sprint race and the Grand Prix, as well as top performances in qualifying and all practice sessions, set a benchmark. This benchmark now serves as a reference point for all test riders or retired riders making guest appearances.
Bautista on Pedrosa’s performance
In comments to crash.net, Bautista expressed his happiness for Pedrosa, stating: “I am happy with Dani’s result. It shows that the riders of our generation are at a high level, even under the pressure from younger riders.” Reflecting on his upcoming race, Bautista added: “We will see what happens in Sepang. Right now, there is more pressure on me because I have to do what he did!” He concluded by praising Pedrosa, saying: “I am happy for him, because he is a great man and an excellent rider.”
However, Bautista’s situation is different from Pedrosa’s. While he is an official WSBK rider and is in competition rhythm, he will return to MotoGP races in Sepang after a nearly five-year break. The 2006 125cc World Champion raced for Suzuki, Honda, Aprilia, and Ducati in the MotoGP category from 2010 to 2018. He achieved three podium finishes, but never managed to win a MotoGP race. His best personal performance in the premier class was fifth place in the overall standings in the 2012 season.
Bautista’s opinion on the opportunity
About his wild-card opportunity, Bautista shared: “I am fortunate that Ducati and Aruba are giving me this opportunity in Sepang. For Ducati, the best option was Valencia. But when I do a wild-card, I want to enjoy it. I don’t want to have any expectations regarding the results. I don’t like the Valencia track; it’s all too small, like a karting track. The weather should be cold and it might rain. I did my last MotoGP race there in 2018 and it rained all weekend. If I can choose, I prefer Sepang. I love that track and I’m sure I will have fun there. Ducati mentioned that it would be a bit more expensive, but we will go ahead anyway. Winning the 2022 title is an additional bonus.”
Bautista’s comments highlight the challenges and pressures that riders face, not only from the competition but also from the achievements of their predecessors. As the MotoGP season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Bautista performs in Sepang, especially with the weight of expectations created by Pedrosa’s recent performance.
