'We had one and a half days with less than optimal conditions' - Bautista criticises World Superbikes testing schedule
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Alvaro Bautista has called for change to the World Superbike preseason testing calendar after a difficult 2025 preseason.
The 2025 World Superbike preseason testing is coming to an end ahead of another full-on season. However, two-time Superbike Champion Alvaro Bautista has slammed the preseason testing calendar.
So far the Superbike paddock has tested in Jerez and Portimao, but they have struggled to get a meaningful day of testing.
Whilst in Spain the first day of testing was cut short by the conditions and the second day was completely written off because of the treacherous conditions. The test in Portimao that finished on the 29th of January was also heavily impacted by the weather. On the morning of day one, there was rain and the track didn't dry properly, then on the second day, there was inconsistent rainfall throughout the day.
After a rain-impacted preseason in Europe Bautista has called for World Superbike testing to follow MotoGP to Asia so the riders can experience better track conditions.
"It is useful in that we can ride the bike, but surely it would be better to do what MotoGP does, they test in hot places where they can ride all day," Bautista explained.
"It can of course rain in Sepang too, but out of three you can certainly ride in good conditions for two. In Europe, we have winter now and it can be cold or wet. You don't get many chances to ride here.
"In Jerez, we only had one day with very difficult conditions, in Portimao we have had half a day so far where the conditions were not the best either. It could rain again on the second day, so it is possible that at the end of four days of testing, we have only had one and a half with less than optimal conditions.
"It's more expensive to go overseas, but you have the security of being able to test there. And the first race in Australia is soon, so you could fly there directly from testing and not have to go back to Europe. So it's not a bad idea for the future to do some testing in hot places."
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