Bautista extends contract with Ducati in World Superbikes

Alvaro Bautista, the defending champion in the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, has confirmed he’ll remain in the series for at least another year after signing a contract extension with Ducati.

The 38-year-old Spaniard had been suggesting his future may lie elsewhere, possibly even outside of World Superbikes (WSBK), but on 4 May announced that he’d be remaining in the category with the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati factory team until the end of the 2024 season.

When he first joined WSBK with Ducati in 2019 after nine years in MotoGP, Bautista set the series alight, winning the first eleven races, but ultimately finished second in the championship. After a two-year stint with Honda, Bautista returned to Aruba.it Racing - Ducati in 2022 and won the championship comfortably. The Spaniard is proving to be even more dominant in 2023, winning eleven of twelve races and with a 69-point lead in the championship at time of writing.

"After 21 years spent in the elite of world motorcycling, in the paddocks of MotoGP and WorldSBK, I feel in excellent shape, both physically and mentally,” Bautista said. “I can say that I am in the best moment of my career: I have a lot of fun riding the bike and I have the pleasure of working with a team that I consider a second family.

“I'm very happy to stay with the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team with whom I've always had a wonderful relationship. I am happy that they still want me, even though I am a little old.

“One more year together, with the hope of keeping the fantastic feeling with the bike, the certainty of an extraordinary working relationship, and, of course, the goal of aiming at great results.”

Stefano Cecconi, Team Principal at Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, added: "We are extremely happy to have extended our relationship with Alvaro and it will be a pleasure to continue a collaboration that has always been excellent both on a professional and human level.

“Alvaro brought our team the first great success, the one we have been chasing since 2015, when we decided to embark on this fascinating adventure with Ducati.

“The determination and commitment that have allowed us to achieve this target have also ensured excellent results in the first three rounds of the current season. Our common goal is, therefore, to continue in this direction in order to achieve other important successes together in the future.”