WSBK: Bautista re-joins Ducati for 2022 title challenge

Alvaro Bautista will leave Honda at the end of the season and return to Ducati for a 2022 championship challenge. The Spaniard previously competed aboard the Panigale V4 R in 2019 and was on course for the title before a series of crashes cost him the crown.

The announcement follows Scott Redding’s departure from Aruba.it Racing – Ducati which left a ride vacant. As Ducati’s most potent bid for the title in recent years, Bautista instantly emerged as a rumoured candidate. He won his first 11 races in WorldSBK with ease and went on to collect another five victories.

Although Bautista eventually lost the championship to Jonathan Rea he proved skills to work the Bologna bullet to incredible effect. The joint ambition of the renewed partnership is to get back on consistent winning ways.

Two years with the HRC factory squad were a rollercoaster of emotions for Bautista. He proved integral in developing the new project and at times showed strong pace, particularly in the latter racer stages. But despite some stand-out finishes, including a podium at Aragon, positive results were few and far between. The Fireblade never showed the consistent victory potential Bautista so desires.

The second Ducati works ride is currently occupied by Michael Ruben Rinaldi. The Italian is likely to stay with the team, but he is yet to sign a contract for next year and Axel Bassani too has been connected to factory interest.

At HRC, both Bautista’s former Ducati teammate Chaz Davies and departing BMW rider Tom Sykes have been tipped to step in for 2022.