MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista will wildcard in Sepang for Aruba.it Ducati

Alvaro Bautista will wildcard in Sepang in MotoGP with Aruba.it Ducati.

Alvaro Bautista will join the Grand Prix paddock in Malaysia in the middle of November for round 18. His wildcard comes just two weeks after the final round of WorldSBK which will take place in Jerez. Bautista will ride for Aruba.it Racing team and will use the Aruba.it livery during the race weekend.

Bautista has completed two tests at Misano, onboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP machine with positive feedback. It will be his first race in MotoGP since the final round of MotoGP at Valencia in 2018.

It will be Ducati’s third wildcard of the season, with test rider Michele Pirro racing at Mugello earlier on in the season. Pirro will also join the paddock once again to wildcard at the San Marino Grand Prix.

Bautista has had an incredible season in WorldSBK, leading the Championship and wanting back-to-back titles. The reigning WorldSBK Champion currently leads by 74 points from Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Aruba.it is currently second in the team standings, just six points from the PATA Yamaha squad. So far this season, Bautista has won 18 races for the Aruba.it team and has signed a one-year contract extension.

Bautista said: “I’m really happy to be able to race in MotoGP as a Wild Card at Sepang, a track that I really like and that I’m happy to be back at since it’s not on the WorldSBK calendar.

“The tests with the Ducati Desmosedici GP gave positive feedback: the feeling was good, and I had fun. I want to sincerely thank Ducati and Aruba.it because, without them, it would have been impossible to have this opportunity. At the same time, I would like to say that this MotoGP race will be a bonus for me and not a priority. That’s why we must stay focused on the WorldSBK Championship, which is the only thing that matters now.

“I want to stay focused for this last part of the season, which will be very demanding, with many races in a short time. The feeling with the Panigale V4R machine is good, and I hope to continue on this path. Then, when the season ends, we’ll think about going to Malaysia and having fun. Now I’ll have a little holiday, and then we’ll be back at Magny-Cours.”

Image credit: Ducati Media