P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alvaro Bautista took third place in Race 1 at the Estoril WorldSBK despite feeling like a “passenger”.
Alvaro Bautista felt like he was just a passenger in the Estoril WorldSBK Race 1 even before a brake issue occurred halfway through the race. It has been a common sight to see Bautista struggle at race starts in World Superbike for years, especially so in 2025. Despite usually having poor starts coupled with weak qualifying, in Estoril, he managed to qualify third and lead in the early laps before facing pressure from other riders. Bautista eventually found his pace, despite feeling like a passenger in the early stages of the race. A front brake issue affected him midway through the race, causing him to lose the lead he had built up over fourth place. Despite the challenges, Bautista managed to push through and secure a solid finish in the race.
