While Aruba.it Ducati Racing is yet to officially confirm Alvaro Bautista exit, the two-time World Superbike Champion revealed the team has exercised the option to not renew his contract beyond 2025 WorldSBK season.
This development marks the end of an era for both Bautista and the Italian manufacturer who together have forged one of the most successful partnerships in the modern history of the championship.
Alvaro Bautista’s journey with Ducati began in 2019 when he made his debut in the World Superbike Championship aboard the factory Panigale V4R.
His impact was immediate and profound: Bautista won his first 11 races, an unprecedented feat that set the tone for his tenure with the team and signaled the arrival of a new force in the series.
Despite a promising start, his initial campaign ultimately fell short of a title as a series of crashes allowed Jonathan Rea, then riding for Kawasaki, to seize control of the championship and secure his fifth consecutive crown.
After his debut season with Ducati, Bautista made a switch to Honda for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. This period, however, proved to be less fruitful as the Spaniard managed only three podium finishes across two years, with his time at Honda marred by frequent crashes and a lack of competitive machinery.
The results did not reflect the talent and determination that Bautista had demonstrated during his Ducati stint and by the end of 2021, a return to the Bologna-based squad was on the cards.
Bautista’s homecoming to Aruba.it Ducati Racing in 2022 was nothing short of triumphant. He immediately re-established himself as a title contender, correcting the missteps of his first campaign and delivering back-to-back WorldSBK championships in 2022 and 2023.
These victories solidified his status as the most successful Ducati rider in the history of the championship, with a remarkable tally of 63 WorldSBK wins—placing him joint-second on the all-time wins list—and over 100 podium finishes.
The 2024 season saw Bautista continue with Ducati, signing a contract extension that included an option for 2026. The terms of the agreement allowed either party to opt out of the second year, provided a decision was made before July 2025.
Despite Bautista’s clear desire to remain with the team—stating that he felt physically and mentally fit to continue competing at the highest level—Ducati ultimately chose not to exercise the option for 2026, effectively ending their collaboration after the 2025 WorldSBK campaign.
Bautista addressed the situation candidly in an interview ahead of the Emilia-Romagna round at Misano, confirming that Ducati decided not to proceed under the agreed conditions.
“For sure, I had signed with Ducati for 2025 and 2026, but with the possibility of breaking the contract from my side and also from their side,” Bautista explained.
“I communicated to the team that, from my side, I was happy and wanted to continue because I felt that, even with the rules, we’re working and arriving at a good performance.
“Then, Ducati said from their side, they don’t want to accept the conditions we signed, so they broke the agreement; that’s all I can say because if you want to know more about this, you have to ask Ducati.“
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Despite the disappointment, Bautista remains resolute in his intention to continue racing. At 40 years old, he insists that he still feels competitive, both physically and mentally, and is not concerned about finding a new team for 2026.
“My intention is to keep racing because I feel good,” he affirmed. “I think, physically and mentally, I feel ready, I feel strong enough to fight for good results.
“I’m not really worried because I think I feel good and competitive on the bike and still my target is to keep racing.“
As Alvaro Bautista exit closes in, speculation is rife over his next move. With his proven track record and undiminished competitiveness, he is expected to attract interest from several teams across the WorldSBK paddock.
Satellite Ducati teams, as well as manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, and BMW, all have potential vacancies for 2026. Notably, BMW recently lost Toprak Razgatlioglu to MotoGP, creating an opening that could appeal to a rider of Bautista’s caliber.
There are also rumors of a possible return to Honda, where Bautista previously raced, although no official negotiations have been confirmed at this stage.
