Alvaro Bautista’s quote about feeling like a “passenger” in Estoril WorldSBK Race 1 refers to his difficulties during the early laps of the race. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider ultimately secured a third-place finish, but the post-race comments highlighted the persistent issue with the Ducati Panigale V4R‘s handling in the opening stages.
Understanding the “Passenger” Feeling (H2: Secondary Keyword – Quote Analysis)
The two-time WorldSBK Champion’s struggles were evident from the start. Despite securing a strong third-place on the grid—a rare front-row start for him—he was unable to maintain the blistering pace set by eventual race winner Toprak Razgatlioglu and teammate Nicolo Bulega.
Speaking to WorldSBK.com, Bautista explained his lack of control, a recurring theme often linked to the minimum weight regulations and the bike’s behavior with a full fuel load.
“I did a good start, I just started to lead the race. But it’s always difficult in the first laps. I felt that I was a passenger, more than a rider. I just tried to keep calm, tried to not take more risks than necessary…”
This candid statement provides a deep insight into the challenge he faces when the Ducati Panigale V4R is at its heaviest, forcing him to ride defensively and manage the machine rather than attack.
Bautista’s Early Race Struggles and the Jonathan Rea Battle (H2: Secondary Keyword Cluster)
While Bautista was initially able to lead, he was soon passed by his rivals. The “passenger” feeling prevented him from riding as aggressively as needed. Crucially, his compromised early pace brought him into a tight battle with Jonathan Rea, who was pressing hard for the podium spot.
The Spaniard was forced to focus on minimizing mistakes rather than chasing the leaders. His primary focus was securing maximum points without exceeding his and the bike’s limit, especially important given the absence of his rival for third in the standings, Danilo Petrucci (injury).
Mid-Race Brake Issue Costs Crucial Gap (H2: Long-Tail Keyword/Context)
Just as Bautista began to find better rhythm as the fuel load dropped and the Ducati handling problem eased, he was struck by a technical setback. Around Lap 12, a Bautista brake issue with the front caliper caused him to run wide at Turn 1.
He managed the problem for the rest of the race, adjusting the lever multiple times. This lost him the small gap he had built over the chase group, forcing him to re-establish his podium position. Despite this, his resilience secured a hard-fought P3 finish at the Estoril WorldSBK Podium.
Sources
Crash.net:
https://www.crash.net/wsbk/news/1083901/1/alvaro-bautista-felt-i-was-passenger-estoril-worldsbk-race-1
WorldSBK.com (Official Championship Website):
https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2025/Better+late+than+never+Bautista+jubilant+after+breaking+his+yearlong+frontrow+drought+and+netting+a+Race+1+podium
MCNews (Contains Direct Quote):
https://www.mcnews.com.au/saturday-worldsbk-ssp-300-results-quotes-notes-images-from-estoril/
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