Was Alvaro Bautista undecided, number 1 or 19 for the 2023 Superbike World Championship? In the end he ‘decided’ the daughter, that’s how.
Ducati returns to the starting line with a Superbike title to defend. Alvaro Bautistathe second world champion in his career after the one obtained years ago in the World Championship (few have succeeded), he therefore decided to exploit theoccasion. His Ducati Panigale V4-R will have a special number, the world champion’s 1. More and more choice rare in these modern times, but that the experienced Spanish driver has decided to accomplish. However, it was not an easy decision, but in the end a member of the thought about it family to convince him.
Bautista has fun
The 38-year-old from Talavera de la Reina has reiterated it several times. Is that the motor which is pushing him to do better and better, to outdo himself and to aim constantly up. In addition to the “change of perspective” due to the birth of two daughtersthe first at the end of 2019 and the second at the beginning of 2021. Una family created together with his wife, the Venezuelan model Grace Barrosowhich motivates him even more, coupled with the fact that last year Ducati wanted try again together with him. Bautista didn’t need to be asked: he knew what the goals were and in 2022 here’s the story, the return of the Red on top of the world since 2011 with Carlos Checa. In fact, it’s been a year doubly historic with the title also conquered in MotoGP with Pecco Bagnaia. But now comes the difficult part, namely repeating the feat, but the smiling Alvaro Bautista shows himself more load for the new challenge. This time precisely with a very challenging number, that of the reigning world champion and therefore landmark of the Superbike.
“I decided for her”
“I finally chose last week” admitted the pilot Aruba Ducati during the presentation in Madonna di Campiglio. A long period of indecision between his number and that of the world champion. Finally here it is: the of him is a 1 with his inside 19, obviously smaller but always clearly visible. Bautista then explains the curious and sweet background: “I talked about it in my family with my daughter.” However, her eldest daughter preferred her 19. “But when he answered the question about the number dad’s, he always said “1 through 19”. She meant 1 with 9, but she’s three years old and she came like this. In the end I decided to do this for her.” A sweet tribute to the search for a world encore.
