Two-time WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista says his three third-place finishes at Estoril were the “maximum” he could achieve.
Bautista’s three third-place finishes marked his first triple podium weekend since round four in Cremona.
However, the Spaniard was no match for Toprak Razgatlioglu and Nicolo Bulega across all three races, as the duo rode off into the distance each time.
Crucially, after Danilo Petrucci’s withdrawal earlier in the weekend due to an injury sustained in training, Bautista’s podium finishes elevated him to third in the championship.
“This weekend was important to don’t make mistakes and get some important points for the championship,” Bautista told media including Motorsport Week after Race 2.
“Because at the end, okay, after winning to championship too be third right now it’s the maximum we can achieve. So it has been important to not make mistakes.”
The three double podiums from the factory Ducati duo mean the Bologna manufacturer once again wins the Team Championship.
“I’m happy to finish my 2nd stage with the Aruba team, winning the team championship,” he added.
“I think it’s my 4th team championship. It’s a good way to end this stage with them.”
Alvaro Bautista not buying into Toprak Razgatlioglu’s ‘Ducati family’ comment
The start of Race 2 saw championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu lose four positions from pole, with the factory Ducati duo, Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli, and GoEleven Ducati’s Andrea Iannone all fighting their way past.
Razgatloglu said post-race that he was unhappy with some of the overtakes, particularly where Ducati riders appeared to be helping each other, feeling they didn’t show respect for the championship battle between himself and Bulega.
When asked Bautista’s thoughts on Razgatlioglu’s “Ducati family” comments, he told Motorsport Week: “I think there is no Ducati family. There is a rider, right? And for sure, Nicolo has his target, is to win the championship.
“Now I have my target that is finished third in the championship. I mean, I don’t know in which way I can help to Nicolo to win the championship.
“I cannot help because it’s not question of family or no family. At the end, for the situation of the championship, you arrive in the last weekend of the season, playing for the championship, but nobody can, especially if the difference needs to be, like, in this weekend, you know?
“Maybe I can be there fighting if somebody removed the weight, and maybe I’m there. Who knows, but right now, it’s unthinkable to be with them.”
READ MORE – How a ‘little step’ from Nicolo Bulega ruined Toprak Razgatlioglu’s Estoril WorldSBK treble charge
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