This is the second time in 2025 that Alvaro Bautista has been on the podium in all three races of the World SBK Round, this time in Estoril.
The previous occasion was the fourth race of the season in Cremona and, like the Italian round, the two-time World Superbike Champion was on the third step of the podium in all three races at Estoril.
Bautista picked up the pace early in the race, forcing him to ride defensively for the first half of all three races, but as usual his speed increased as the tires wore and the fuel load decreased.
The Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider admitted that the race was “not easy” but was happy with the result.
“At the end of the day it was a very good weekend so I’m happy,” Bautista told WorldSBK.com after Race 2 in Estoril.
“We finished third in all the important sessions: Super Pole, Race 1, Super Pole Race and Race 2.
“It wasn’t easy, especially today because I had to defend my position. I didn’t fight too much, but I felt the pressure throughout the laps, so I can’t relax.”
“We had to be very focused and focused, but in the end that was the most we could achieve because Toprak (Razgatlioglu) and Nicolo (Bulega) were three steps ahead of the rest.”
“We were kind of fighting for the win for the remaining riders, so I’m happy about that too.”
Bautista won 3/3 at Estoril and moved up to third in the standings, eight points ahead of Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Locatelli, who missed all three races due to injury.
“We gained important points towards the championship. We are currently in third place in the classification,” Bautista said.
“This was good because in the past there have been many times when I was too close to third and something happened and I lost more points.
“This time I really concentrated and didn’t make any mistakes. That’s good.”
Still, with only eight points separating him from the other two riders in the top three in the standings, Bautista knows he needs to do well at the Jerez round to secure bronze. In last year’s Super Pole race, he finished 9th and only scored one point.
“There’s nothing clear about whether we’re going to be third, because with three races you can lose or you can get a lot of points,” Bautista said.
“I’m just going to go there (Jerez) and enjoy the weekend and have fun with my family, friends and fans.
“I remember last year I had a lot of problems and I didn’t feel like I was very strong, so this year I’ll see how I feel. But now I certainly have to defend my third place in the championship.
“It’s not the same as having to catch them.
“Certainly, it’s up to us now, so let’s aim to do it perfectly and see if we can maintain this position.”