In MotoGp, Suzuki’s Alvaro Bautista is planning to submit himself to the medical team this weekend in the hope of being cleared to compete at Estroil. This, just 42 days since he broke his femur! He claims to have travelled over 4500kms back and forth from his home to Madrid to the hyperbaric chamber there in order to be ready for this weekend. And, if this picture is anything to go by, he just might be.
In the BSB over the weekend I have just found out that a mate of mine, Ben Burke, won the Superstock 600 race at Brands Hatch. Go, Benny!!! And, on the subject of BSB, 17 year old Danny Buchan, who was told that he was too young to race, gave the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R its first competition win, taking out the Superstock 1000 race ahead of Australia’s Jason O’Halloran.
And, in a news item that is really 27 days too late, Max Biaggi has declared a truce between himself and arch-rival, Valentino Rossi. Yeah, I know!!
Coburn says
I had big wraps on Bautista a few years back, always fast but the race does not always go the swift. He does not appear to have much of a racing brain and makes silly mistakes on a regular basis. Anybody paying his wages is not getting much value for money IMHO. Quick rider when he stays on.
Phil Hall says
Yes, I agree. Unfortunately he’s also in the wrong team. Trying to make the Zook go well can easily lead to over-riding and accidents. Just ask all the riders who’ve had to ride it over the last few years.
Coburn says
With a little better guidance maybe, a bit like Pedrosa has, he would have been the 250 World Champ. He was definitely as quick as any rider on that grid.
Phil Hall says
Quicker, yes, but not quite as disciplined, which is where your “guidance” comes in.
Coburn says
Sorry Phil back to what you said, yes you are totally correct. Wrong team for him, he is now over-riding which sadly comes naturally to him. He needs some guidance right now otherwise this will be the last we see of A.Bautista.
Phil Hall says
Trouble is, he’s not going to get that at Suzuki. They’re too busy watching their back for the financial axe to fall on the team to be concerned about rider welfare. Looking at how the careers of some of their previous riders have suffered from working with them, I’m not sure it ever has been, frankly. They either need to get serious or get out. I remember talking to Stu about 10 years ago and he said the same thing then. Nothing’s changed.