Alvaro Bautista knows his WorldSBK future hinges on his performance. The Spaniard is hoping to generate "more options" for a 2027 seat by improving his results with the Barni Ducati team.
This season, Bautista moved to Barni Ducati after being soundly beaten by Nicolo Bulega in 2024 and 2025. The two-time WorldSBK champion has struggled, with a best dry result of fourth in 2026 and a solitary podium in the rain of Race 2 at Phillip Island. At 41, he is the oldest rider on the grid and his current form is poor considering the strength of his machinery. As a result, his options for next season are limited, and no official announcement has been made about his future. Xavi Vierge, who will be replaced by Jack Miller at Yamaha, is one of the riders linked with Bautista's Barni seat.
Despite a strong WorldSBK history with two world titles and the third-most wins of all time, Bautista's current situation is precarious. The Spaniard knows that the only way to improve his negotiating position for 2027 is to improve his results in 2026.
"At the moment I don't have [anything] clear on the table," Bautista told WorldSBK.com ahead of the Italian Round. "But for that reason I try to focus on the present because I know if I can recover the feeling, I can recover the feedback in the bike to push hard and fight for top positions, then for sure I will have more options."
Bautista emphasized that his priority is to return to competitiveness. "But right now it's important to be focused in the present, to try to do my best, and try to recover, to have fun on the bike that is what made me go fast, and let's see. But I'm not worried about the future; I'm more worried to recover the feeling and to be competitive as before."
When asked if he was looking for roles outside of WorldSBK, such as being a test rider, Bautista replied, "Well, at the moment my idea is to be a rider. I like racing, I feel physically and mentally good, so this will be my target. But, at the moment, nothing clear, and let's see."
With determination, Bautista is working hard to bounce back. He knows that only with positive results can he open up more opportunities to continue racing in WorldSBK or beyond. We'll see what he can do in the upcoming rounds.
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