SBK, Bautista: “I’m angry, it was my fault that I fell, Ducati is fast everywhere”

Not even a fall wa able to stop Alvaro Bautista. The reigning World Champion was the undisputed star of Friday’s Superbike free practice at the Mandalika Street International Circuit. More specifically, it was during the second free practice session when, in the face of a harmless “tumble” at Turn 1, the Aruba.it Racing-Ducati rider got back into action, in a half simulation of a race at record pace. And (with new tires) he came very close to a track record, before his teammate, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, took the lead.

“Not an easy day, especially in the morning, when the track conditions weren’t perfect,” the Ducati rider stated. “In the afternoon, we almost returned to normal. We focused on setting up the bike, making some changes between FP1 and FP2, which  I liked. I'm satisfied, except for the fall.”

Bautista explained the dynamics.
“With my left foot, I inadvertently hit the gear lever, switching into first gear, and I ended up falling. My mistake. Fortunately, with no physical consequences. Not bad, because I returned to the track shortly after, immediately managing to improve my lap times.”

Last year, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Yamaha scored a peremptory hat-trick here in Indonesia. The feeling, however, is that Borgo Panigale’s Rossa has gained points and that Bautista can be as unstoppable like in Australia.
“It’s too early to draw conclusions. We have to see how the conditions of the asphalt will evolve later in the weekend,” he explained. “The important thing is to be competitive in the races, starting from tomorrow afternoon. Of course, at the moment, the new Panigale V4-R is fast everywhere.”