Phillip Island is just not a circuit the place aggressive battles are a rarity, and in World Superbike Race 1 on Saturday it was Alvaro Bautista and Scott Redding who delivered one of the intense duels.
For Bautista, Race 1 in Phillip Island noticed him again on the rostrum having missed out in all three races within the ultimate spherical of 2024 at Jerez; whereas Redding’s podium-contending trip resulted in fifth: his greatest end result since he was fourth within the Superpole Race at Magny-Cours final September.
“I fought a bit bit with Scott [Redding] that was too aggressive however on the finish I used to be capable of get a ways,” Bautista informed WorldSBK.com.
He clarified: “Not aggressive, however he [Redding] tried, for certain, to be there as a result of he’s sturdy right here, possibly, with the sturdy wind [because] large riders have extra power on the bike they usually can transfer the bike a bit higher.
“I wrestle a bit bit extra.
“He did a extremely good race as a result of he began very properly and he stayed there on a regular basis.
“However when he was in entrance of me he was slower, so I feel he was quick as a result of he had the reference, however he battled very properly.”
Redding himself described the battle with Bautista as “tasty”, and “good, clear racing”.
“It was tasty, that one [with Bautista],” he informed WorldSBK.com.
“It was good. Having the ability to overtake folks once more and to race in a method that I’m capable of race, and I used to be having loads of enjoyable.
“I used to be pushing loads as a result of in the mean time they’re a bit sooner than me so I used to be making an attempt to adapt and study within the second, and if you make a step with the velocity there’s loads of issues altering.
“Then I stated ‘Okay, come on, we battle a bit bit with them’.
“Then Alvaro [Bautista] got here beneath fairly aggressive, and I stated ‘Okay, take a breath, we go racing once more’.
“It was good. It was good, clear racing.”
