One of the key puzzles in this year’s silly season has fallen into place. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) will stay with the factory Ducati team for 2025 after months of speculation about his future, with the team and rider now committing to each other for a fourth season in his second spell with the Bologna-based manufacturer in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. It completes the factory Ducati line-up for next year, with teammate Nicolo Bulega signing a two-year contract, with the Italian brand opting for continuity heading into next season.

THE STORY CONTINUES: Bautista and Ducati stay together

After a difficult start to 2024, Bautista kept discussing the feeling he had on his Panigale V4 R as he went in search of what he had in 2023. On Friday at Most, the Spaniard stated he was a lot happier with it and, on Sunday, gave the clearest hint yet that his plans were to stay. Although no announcement was forthcoming at Portimao, his plans have now been set in stone, with the 39-year-old committing to the 2025 season with the factory Ducati outfit alongside Bulega.

A SUCCESSFUL START: a stunning debut season ends without silverware

Bautista made his WorldSBK debut in 2019 with Ducati and was unbeatable at the start of the season, winning 11 consecutive races – a previous WorldSBK record until beaten this year by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) – and looked like he would end Jonathan Rea's winning streak. However, a disastrous second half of the season ended with Bautista finishing second behind Rea in the Championship standings and he left Ducati at the end of the season for a new adventure, joining Honda for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

A DREAM RETURN: two titles with Ducati

After a difficult two seasons with Honda, Bautista made a stunning return to Ducati, and it paid off handsomely for both rider and manufacturer. 16 wins and 31 podiums in 36 races ensured he claimed his first title in 2022, and Ducati’s first Riders’ Championship since 2011, by beating Toprak Razgatlioglu to the crown. The defence then took place in 2023, with Bautista taking a record 27 wins that season as he won a second successive crown to retain the #1 plate. While 2024 has seen a downturn in wins and podiums, Bautista sits third in the standings after seven rounds. He’s currently on 61 wins, all with Ducati, making him the rider with the most wins for the Bologna-based manufacturer.

BAUTISTA SAYS: “Thrilled to continue… hope I can repay them by returning to having as much fun on track as we did in the last rounds”

Discussing his renewal with Ducati, Bautista said: “I am thrilled to continue another season with Ducati, with Aruba and with this beautiful team that represents a family to me. I feel physically and mentally perfect, and I am sure I can still be very competitive. Furthermore, there is an extraordinary relationship with everyone, from the mechanics to the management, to the sponsors, which is why I am even happier. I want to thank Ducati, Aruba, Stefano Cecconi, Daniele Casolari and Serafino Foti for their trust in me. I hope I can repay them by returning to having as much fun on track as we did in the last rounds.”

THE TEAM’S VIEW: “We must continue on this path to make a great season finale and close the gap that separates us from the top”

Team Principal Stefano Cecconi added: “I have said many times that our priority was to continue with Alvaro, and I couldn't wait to be able to announce the renewal of our collaboration officially. It is a pleasure to work with him, both from a personal and professional point of view. I am convinced that by continuing to work hard together, we will be able to overcome the new challenges that the new regulations offer us. During the last few races, we have found solutions that have allowed Alvaro to rediscover the sensations that were a bit lacking at the beginning of the year. Now, we must continue on this path to make a great season finale and close the gap that separates us from the top.”

FROM DUCATI: “We will do everything we can to put Alvaro in a position to defend the world title until the end”

Providing the thoughts from Ducati, Gigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager said: “We are delighted to continue with Alvaro Bautista. He has given us great emotions in recent seasons, and his talent certainly remains unquestionable. The new regulations and the very high level reached by the World Superbike Championship will make 2025 challenging, but we are ready to face it together. For now, it is important to stay focused on the current season: the Championship is still long, and we will do everything we can to put Alvaro in a position to defend the world title until the end.”

Watch Bautista’s current and next campaigns unfold in style using the WorldSBK VideoPass!