Alvaro Bautista rides Honda RC212V for the first time at Valencia test – MotoGP news
Former Rizla Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista had his first official outing on Honda RC212V in San Carlo Honda Gresini team livery.
The Spanish rider rode two seasons with the Suzuki factory team. He joined the England-based Japanese team in 2010. He was teamed with Loris Capirossi. In the following 2011 season he was left as a sole Suzuki rider on the MotoGP grid.
After have a strong progressive season with few depressed moments, he left Suzuki team and joined hands with the Honda Gresini team.
Following the season finale at Valencia the Spanish rider signed a contract with the Italian-based team for the 2012 MotoGP season.
The Spanish rider took the 800cc RC212V prototype out on the Ricardo Tormo circuit. The track outing was arranged to let him have an initial feel of the Honda machine.
The two-day test session at Valencia, Spain is marked as the first test outing of the winter testing. It is also the last official outing for 2011. The next winter test session will be held in late January.
Rizla Suzuki team also regretted the departure of the Spanish rider from their team. The team has a very mature relation with Bautista. He was well settled with working environment at Suzuki team.
His debut premier class race was with Suzuki team at Losail, Qatar. Unfortunately, at the start of 2011 season he faced a fractured left femur. The Spanish rider faced an unpleasant season start.
The Spaniard got famous with large fan following in MotoGP while riding for the Suzuki team. He was also the prior choice for the team to continue into the next season.
Suzuki Motor Corporations expressed its views and said, “All members of the MotoGP team, title sponsor Rizla and the team’s other sponsors and partners would like to wish Bautista well in his future career and every success and happiness in his personal
life, and everyone in the Rizla Suzuki squad would like to thank him for the two years of hard work, loyalty and commitment that he has given the team.”
During his two-season span with Suzuki, he improved his race results. He managed to finish in top five positions and excelled his qualifying to the first row on the grid.
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