‘Marquez was above all else,’ Alvaro Bautista deems Marc Marquez as Ducati’s biggest rival over the years

‘Marquez was above all else,’ Alvaro Bautista deems Marc Marquez as Ducati’s biggest rival over the years

Alvaro Bautista

Alvaro Bautista completed the 2022 Superbike season with 16 wins and 31 podiums and clinched the World Superbike title in Mandalika with 3 races to spare. His championship success came after 2 years of trials and tribulations. Bautista moved to the factory Honda team, HRC from Ducati Corse in 2020, a move that did not produce the intended success.

Following a poor showing in the 2020 season where Bautista could only finish 9th in the rider’s standings. He made the decision to return to Ducati Corse for the 2022 season at the beginning of 2021. Bautista believes Marquez has consistently been Ducati’s biggest rival over the years. Notably, Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso finished runner-up to Marquez in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

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In a recent interview, Bautista pointed out the fact that Ducati Corse had not won a MotoGP title since 2007 and a Superbike title since 2011. Bautista credits the recent success of Ducati Corse to manager Luigi Dall’lgna and believes the team has worked non-stop since the Italian’s arrival in 2014. Ducati’s triple crown in MotoGP in 2022 is testament to Bautista’s claims.

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Alvaro Bautista believes the Desmosedici was already a strong bike

Alvaro Bautista riding his Ducati Desmosedici
Alvaro Bautista riding his Ducati Desmosedici

“In Dovizioso’s time, the bike was already very good… but he had Marquez as a rival, who was above all other riders” said Bautista while referring to the Ducati Desmosedici ridden by Andrea Dovizioso, who finished runner up to Marquez in the late 2010’s. “Ducati hasn’t won the riders’ championship since 2007 in MotoGP and since 2011 in Superbike” he said.

There have been many years where Ducati has worked non-stop and the key to that has been the work done since the arrival of Gigi Dall’Igna,” he continued. Bautista also mentioned that the success Ducati have had comes down to the perseverance and hard work put in by the whole team. “There aren’t any secrets, just perseverance. The other manufacturers cannot complain, they have to lower their heads and work hard. Ducati didn’t complain and did things the right way.”

Bautista’s praise for Marquez is justified considering the Spaniard won 6 MotoGP titles between 2013 and 2019. As mentioned previously, Bautista believes the Ducati Desmosdici was ready to challenge for the title when piloted by Dovizioso but Marquez was simply the better rider. Notably, Bautista will be carrying on with Ducati Corse for this season. It will be interesting to see if the pairing can produce more championship winning seasons after having tasted success together. It will be all to play for as the two parties strive towards success in 2023.

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