Alvaro Bautista was eliminated from title contention in 🦩WorldSBK at last weekend’s Estoril Round, but at Jerez this weekend he returns to a circuit he won at three times in 2023.

Unusually, given Bautista’s status as a two-times WorldSBK ♛Champion,♈ there is perhaps more attention on the side of the factory Ducati box occupied by Nicolo Bulega this weekend, with the Italian still in mathematical title contention.

Bautista explained the differences between his previous last-round WorldSBK title decider experience,ꦫ compared to the scenario faced by his factory Ducati teammate, Nicolo Bulega, this weekend.

“In the past, I was at the final round with title chances, but I was in a different pos🌸ition,” Bautista said.

“I was🐈 leading by a lot of points, and it was easy to get th▨e title.

“For Nicolo, it’s a different situation. It’s his first year in WorldSBK and he’൲s second in the champions🌳hip with a big points difference.

“It doesn’t all depend on him; it depends on ♑Toprak’s [Ra𓆏zgatlioglu] results.”

Despite his deficit, Bulega should be “proud” of is se𒅌ason, Bautista insisted.

“He has to be proud because, in his first year, heᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ got to the last round with some chances,” the reigning champion said.

“On Saturday, if nothing strange happens, the differඣence will ﷺbe too big, and Toprak could be champion.”

Even if there was no direct ‘order’ given by Ducati to Bautista to help Bulega’s points si💯tuation in Estoril, Bautista at least took it upon himself to cause m🎀inimal problems for his teammate, most notably in Race 2.

In Jerez, it will be a different situation, as Ba♋utista explained.

“Here, I can’t help Bꦅulega,” he said. “At Estoril, I could help to not take off m💦ore points from Nicolo. Here, I can’t.

“In the same situation as Estoril, I cꦍan attack Nicolo because, even if he’s second, he has less chance of the titl🌃e.

“There’s nothing I can do. If we can fight for the victory, it’ll ꦉbe nice. If not, I’ll be happy without it if I can do my best in all races.”