P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Danilo Petrucci says he has “pride” in battling Alvaro Bautista for third place in the 2025 WorldSBK standings.
Danilo Petrucci expressed pride in battling Alvaro Bautista for third place in the current World Superbike riders’ standings, acknowledging Bautista’s superior pace over the race duration. Although Petrucci leads Bautista by 15 points, he recognizes the challenge posed by Bautista’s lighter weight and tire management skills towards the end of a race. The Italian rider feels honored to compete against a two-time World Champion with a factory bike, despite occasionally missing the edge needed to keep up with the lead pace. In contrast, Alvaro Bautista conceded that Petrucci is performing well this season, attributing his own setbacks to unfortunate circumstances. Bautista remains focused on improving his own performance and maximizing results with the bike at his disposal, aiming to minimize external factors affecting his championship position.
