Alvaro Bautista has addressed Andrea Iannone’s assertion that he outperformed Bautista in MotoGP at Sepang. Iannone, who competed in the 2024 MotoGP Malaysia race riding a GP23 for the VR46 Ducati team, claimed he achieved faster times than Bautista did in the previous year’s race.
Bautista’s Response
Bautista, speaking to Motosprint, dismissed the comparison, stating it was flawed due to differing circumstances. “Comparisons are never a good thing, and I’m sorry Andrea felt the need to compare himself to me because our situations were entirely different,” he said.
He elaborated on the specifics, noting that Iannone completed fewer laps than him during the race. “I’m not sure where he thinks he was faster than me, given that he ran one lap less than I did,” Bautista remarked. “I only want to defend myself here because this isn’t a fair situation. As I’ve said, we’re talking about two very different scenarios, especially since I raced at Sepang with a significant shoulder injury.”
Bautista added humor to his comments, saying: “If I were born in Hollywood, maybe I’d be a famous actor by now. But I was born in Talavera, and I’m a motorcycle racer!”
Despite his frustration, Bautista emphasized his intention to avoid conflict. “The numbers tell the truth, and I’m sorry for this unnecessary comparison. I don’t want to create controversy; I just want to set the record straight.”
Context of the Comparison
In 2023, Bautista competed at Sepang while dealing with a shoulder injury, finishing 17th. Iannone, who made his MotoGP return this year after a four-year ban, also finished 17th in the same race.
The pair also crossed paths earlier in the World Superbike Championship, where Bautista secured third place in the standings while Iannone ranked seventh.
Looking Ahead
Both riders will reunite on Ducati machinery in 2025, reigniting their competitive rivalry. With their differing performances in 2024, the upcoming season could provide a new stage for them to settle their differences—this time on equal footing.
