Alvaro Bautista wins WorldSBK title for Ducati

Alvaro Bautista was dominant in World Superbike this season and he claimed the reward with the championship today at the Indonesian round at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit. The Spanish racer earned 14 wins for the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team this season and 29 podium finishes.

He was second in Race 1 on Saturday and then followed that up with a second-place finish in Race 2 to wrap up the title. Bautista is just the third rider to ever win a WorldSBK championship as well as a MotoGP title along with Max Biaggi and John Kocinski. Bautista won the 125cc MotoGP crown in 2006.

This marks the 15th rider title in WorldSBK for Ducati. The first was won by Raymond Roche in 1990 with the Ducati 851 and the most recent was earned by Carlos Checa success on board of Ducati 1098R in the 2011 season. Until today, that is. After 11 years of waiting, Alvaro Bautista and his Ducati Panigale V4 of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team returned Borgo Panigale to the top step of the WorldSBK podium.

Bautista was humble in victory.
"Here we are. I am very happy. After two difficult years, many people had put their trust in me: Stefano, Serafino, Claudio, Gigi, Paolo. I had a second chance of trying again after 2019. I have tried to be the best possible rider," he said. "I have worked hard. And I think I have won against rivals like Toprak and Johnny, who set the bar high with incredible performances during the season. Now it is time to celebrate. It is time to recognize what we have achieved. I want to thank Aruba.it and Ducati, and all my team. Thank you.”

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said the 2022 season is one for the company's record books.
"Today Ducati is on top of the world in Superbike too, with an incredible title won by Alvaro Bautista. Together with the MotoGP title, this triumph marks a historical result and the peak of an unforgettable and magical season, that will last forever in the story of our company and in the heart of all the Ducatisti."