Rizla Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista collected DNF at Phillip Island - MotoGP news
Rizla Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista had a good start in the Iveco Australian Grand Prix, but ended with an unpleasant crash.
He was victimised by sudden rain down in the closing laps of the race.
The Spanish rider took fourth seat on the grid, claiming his best qualifying position in MotoGP. He was able to hit a good start in the race, but soon dropped to sixth place behind Hondas and a Nicky Hayden of Ducati Team.
Bautista said, “It was good, but in the end a disappointing race for us. We didn’t start so well, but I was with the front group and very close to the podium battle. After a few laps, when the tyres started to lose their grip, I started to fight with Nicky
and we lost time to the others.”
The Spaniard was lucky to get an upgrade to his starting position in the race, when Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo withdrew from the event. However it proved to be a little help for him. Though he raced close to the top rider’s pack but had to
struggle for the grip.
Bautista further expressed his race situation, “After I got away from Nicky I tried to concentrate to get the most from the used tyre and do my best. I just had to finish the race to get a fifth place, which would have been a good result here.”
As the race went on the Hayden lost grip and pace to stay in the front pack of riders. Eventually, Bautista was able to take the fifth place behind four factory Honda riders.
He added that the race conditions were very unlikely. Some parts of the track were having pour down, whereas other sections were dry.
Each lap had a different time. Earlier Bautista’s crash, Valentino Rossi of Ducati Marlboro Team made a pass over him and as he crossed him, the Italian crashed.
After couple of laps to Rossi’s crash he got into turn ten and faced pour down. He claimed that even, before he could react to the situation he slid into the gravel with no return.
The Spanish rider is at 12th position in the 2011 world championship and hopes to get good news to continue his career with Rizla Suzuki in 2012 MotoGP season.
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