Rizla Suzuki’s Alvaro Bautista ready to challenge for top five at Phillip Island – MotoGP news
Rizla Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista is gearing up for the Iveco Australian Grand Prix to challenge the top five slots.
The 16th round of the 2011 MotoGP event calendar will take place on October 16, 2011.
The Spanish rider was strong and fast during the last MotoGP event held at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, Japan. Bautista was once riding third in the race when Stoner went wide and Dovizioso and Simoncelli were penalised.
Alvaro Bautista said, “I was very disappointed and upset at the end of the race in Japan, because we deserved to hold onto that result after all the hard work everyone has put in. We have to take all the positives from that weekend, and the previous races,
and keep working in that same frame of mind in Australia.”
At the 2010 Motegi event, he was defending fourth place when he crashed out and ended the race day in misery. The Spanish rider has scored several top six finishes at the Phillip Island circuit and tends to do it even better this time.
After having a ‘did not finish,’ at Motegi he is focused to score good results in the upcoming Grand Prix at Australia.
During the 2011 season Bautista and his Suzuki crew has improved its GSV-R to a next level. Where early in the season he struggled to finish in top-ten, he now effortlessly qualifies within the top ten slots to challenge the mid pack of riders.
Bautista added, “I know this will be a completely different challenge, but the bike is now working well in all conditions and this weekend will show us how far we have come this season.”
Recalling the 2010 Australian event, Bautista missed the top ten finish by merely fraction of a second. Looking at current pace, he is sure to do a lot better than his last season’s run.
The Phillip Island circuit has quickly changing weather atmosphere and many riders worry about the track and weather conditions. Bautista also feels that the conditions at the track will significantly affect the race.
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