That is the second time in 2025 that Alvaro Bautista has been on the rostrum in all three races of the World SBK Spherical, this time in Estoril.
The earlier event was the fourth race of the season in Cremona and, just like the Italian spherical, the two-time World Superbike Champion was on the third step of the rostrum in all three races at Estoril.
Bautista picked up the tempo early within the race, forcing him to journey defensively for the primary half of all three races, however as typical his velocity elevated because the tires wore and the gas load decreased.
The Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider admitted that the race was “not straightforward” however was proud of the outcome.
“On the finish of the day it was an excellent weekend so I am glad,” Bautista advised WorldSBK.com after Race 2 in Estoril.
“We completed third in all of the vital periods: Tremendous Pole, Race 1, Tremendous Pole Race and Race 2.
“It wasn’t straightforward, particularly immediately as a result of I needed to defend my place. I did not battle an excessive amount of, however I felt the stress all through the laps, so I am unable to loosen up.”
“We needed to be very targeted and targeted, however in the long run that was essentially the most we may obtain as a result of Toprak (Razgatlioglu) and Nicolo (Bulega) had been three steps forward of the remaining.”
“We had been type of combating for the win for the remaining riders, so I’m glad about that too.”
Bautista received 3/3 at Estoril and moved as much as third within the standings, eight factors forward of Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Locatelli, who missed all three races as a consequence of damage.
“We gained vital factors in direction of the championship. We’re presently in third place within the classification,” Bautista mentioned.
“This was good as a result of up to now there have been many instances after I was too shut to 3rd and one thing occurred and I misplaced extra factors.
“This time I actually concentrated and did not make any errors. That is good.”
Nonetheless, with solely eight factors separating him and the opposite two riders within the third place spot within the standings, Bautista is aware of he must do effectively on the Jerez spherical to clinch the bronze medal. In final 12 months’s Tremendous Pole race, he completed ninth and solely scored one level.
“There’s nothing clear about whether or not we’ll be third, as a result of with three races you may lose or you will get a variety of factors,” Bautista mentioned.
“I am simply going to go there (Jerez) and benefit from the weekend and have enjoyable with my household, associates and followers.
“I bear in mind final 12 months I had a variety of issues and I did not really feel like I used to be very robust, so this 12 months I will see how I really feel. However now I definitely must defend my third place within the championship.
“It’s not the identical as having to catch them.
“Definitely, it’s as much as us now, so let’s goal to do it completely and see if we will keep this place.”
