'We will see how the first three or four races go' - Ducati boss discusses Alvaro Bautista's future

02/14/2025 08:37 AM

'He himself would be the one to say enough if he doesn't have the performance...'

During the offseason, Alvaro Bautista turned 40 ahead of his seventh year in the World Superbike paddock. The Spaniard has won two titles during his time in the class but saw a dramatic drop in performance in 2024.

There have been rumours surrounding Bautista's future in the sport as all the signs point to another difficult 2025 season. The Aruba.it Racing - Ducati rider has struggled to adapt to the Ducati Panigale V4 R and is still searching for a level of confidence.

At the factory Ducati team launched Serafino Foti, the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Team Manager, spoke to GPOne.com about Bautista's difficult 2025 pre-season.

"Unfortunately, we still haven't been able to give him the confidence he needs," Foti stated.

"But I'm more concerned about the weather there than the fact that we won't be able to. At Phillip Island, we will not have two full days but only eight hours total, however, we will try.

"Then, it is a track that is friendly to him and maybe that will help him. The important thing is to get off to a good start because I think if he can do that then he will be able to find the feeling again.

"Since even last year he was very strong in some races like Aragon, where he had an incredible feeling. He has not forgotten, but it is clear that we have to be the ones to help him find those sensations he had in 2022 and 2023."

Foti was asked about the idea of Bautista leaving Ducati or retiring at the end of the 2025 season if he has another difficult year.

The Italian stated that Bautista's future with Ducati and in racing is for the Spaniard to decide after the first three of four races.

Foti said: "Knowing him, he races because he has fun and to perform, and in my opinion, he himself would be the one to say enough if he doesn't have the performance. I don't think that will happen, though, because Alvaro can still give so much.

"He looks like a kid even though he is 40 years old. I hope to continue with him, but rightly we will see how the first three or four races go, and then he will be the first to decide his future."

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