DUTCH ROUND | FRIDAY
April 17, 2026
Saturday in Assen opened with a positive FP3 session. Bautista confirmed his progress, ending third with a strong 1:33.177 in a session that was also interrupted by a red flag following Chantra’s crash.
In Superpole, Alvaro secured seventh place with a time of 1:33.013 (+0.869).
Race 1 got underway under cloudy skies and low temperatures, but without rain. Bautista made a strong start from the third row and quickly moved up to fourth position, defending it especially in the opening laps, where he struggles the most due to the weight of the bike. The Spaniard maintained a consistent pace throughout the race, also managing the arrival of rain at mid-distance with composure and without taking unnecessary risks. In the final laps, as conditions evolved, he slightly lost feeling with the tyres but still managed to finish in fourth position, confirming the progress made on setup and confidence with the bike.
Bautista’s solidity and continuous progress, with increasing confidence on the bike. Valuable data collected ahead of tomorrow, with two races scheduled and still uncertain weather conditions.
#THERECONQUEST
ALVARO BAUTISTA
“Compared to yesterday, we managed to improve the feeling with some setup changes. This is important because we gain confidence every time and I feel better and better on the bike. We are getting closer to a strong performance, we are working on it, but we are not quite there yet. Today in Race 1 I had a good start from the third row, also thanks to a better Superpole compared to the previous ones. I was able to move up to fourth position right away and defend it in the early laps, which is the phase where I struggle the most due to the weight of the bike. I find it difficult and I can’t ride the lines I would like. I managed to keep fourth position. After mid-race, when the rain started, I stayed focused and tried to bring home the best possible result without taking too many risks, even though I lost some ground to the leaders. In the final laps, when the rain stopped, I couldn’t find the same feeling with the tyres. Fourth place is a good result, but above all the improved feeling is a very positive sign.”
