Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Bautista Dominates Aragon WorldSBK T hree more WorldSBK wins for Alvaro Bautista and the Ducati Panigale V4 R in Aragon, April 6-7, underlined that it is as much of a game-changer in WorldSBK as any bike in history, even if only one rider has got it flying properly every time out. Bautista took Ducati's tally of race wins in WorldSBK to 350 at Aragon, as he made it nine starts, nine wins. Plus Superpole, lap record, you name it. Even with an expected 250 rpm reduction from the top of the Ducati's stratospheric revs after this round, and some greater revs allowed for one or two others, the Ducati really does do everything well—especially with a super- experienced and still fast recent MotoGP rider on it. Ducati has unquestionably brought a lot of MotoGP with them as they revamped a team and their old V-twin tech to a V4 dreamland in 2019. Bautista's current confidence is like an aura around him, on and off the bike. His "hit the front and go" tactic is the only one he uses or needs. Since he found his magic base setup in the tests at Phillip Island, he has been transcendent in the 'other' big four-stroke World Championship. "It is the easiest thing you can do [it], but it is not easy," said Bautista of his early race attacks. "We are breaking all the records, so that means that the level of the category is higher than in other seasons. But I have a feeling with the bike that we are one, and I can do everything." Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) has been the closest man to Bautista so far, and he was again at Aragon, even after Rea and his team made uncharacteristic mis- takes in Superpole. Three more second places; three more times Rea was not within a sniff of his first win in 2019. The very thing that Rea had in spades last year—unshakeable confidence on the bike and a team that made it work for him ev- ery time, no matter what—is now the sole possession of Bautista. Rea is happy with his bike, never been better, but the land- scape is different now. No matter what Rea and his modified production bike do, the much more closely track-focused and designed Ducati can do it better. And Bautista is faultless so far, in pace and precision. Rea was dented at how much Bautista could put into him and his more closely hounding rivals in the early laps, and he sees no signs of that stopping any time soon. "I do not see the story chang- ing, to be honest," said Rea. "We are so far behind. I cannot magically find 10 seconds. I am busting my ass to be where I am, and of course, Alvaro is doing an exceptional job. We cannot come up with some kind of miracle for Assen. Hopefully, I can eat into that gap that has been there in the first three rounds." Steadily, but inexorably, the other Panigales and improving. Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) is on the same stuff as Bautista, has been from round one, but he is much taller and subse- quently heavier despite his rake-like physique. Davies has yet to find his happy place on the MotoGP-esque Ducati anyway, but he made great strides and two podiums at Mo- torland. And yet he looks far from comfortable still. IN THE WIND P46 It all looks too easy for Alvaro Bautista in WorldSBK right now.