Alvaro Bautista biography

MotoGP

, pubblicato il 09 giugno 2009

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Alvaro Bautista was born on the 21th November 1984 in Talavera de la Reina. He rode a motorcycle for the first time at three years of age and competed in his first race just five years later. At nine he finished runner-up in the Madrid mini moto Championship despite competing against much older riders and two years later he won the title, as well as taking a podium finish and clinching sixth place overall in the 50cc Aprilia Cup.

In 1998 he finished third in the 50cc Aprilia Cup and was selected by Alberto Puig to contest the Movistar Activa Joven Cup in 1999, finishing fifth. In 2000 he contested the Movistar Activa Joven Cup for a second time, showing his professionalism to take eighth place overall despite being injured. Puig consequently picked him as a back-up rider for the 125cc Spanish Championship and he soon began to consider a career in the sport he loved.

In 2001 he entered the Spanish Championship, despite not having official material at his disposal, starting the season with Team Belart before signing for Manuel Morente after the team folded halfway through the season.

In 2002 he joined the Atlético de Madrid team to again contest the 125cc Spanish Championship, fighting with Héctor Barberá for the title until the final round at Valencia, where he set pole position but finished fifth after crashing in the race. That season also saw Bautista get his first taste of international action in the 125cc European Championship, making a positive impression with a podium at Assen and fourth place in Hungary. He also contested four rounds of the 125cc World Championship as a wildcard with Team Atlético de Madrid, demonstrating his ability to compete at the top level.

In 2003 his potential was recognised by Seedorf Racing (owned by international footballer Clarence Seedorf), who offered him a full-time ride in the 125cc World Championship. He finished his debut season in 20th place overall on 31 points, with best finishes of fourth at Phillip Island and sixth at Valencia. That season also saw Bautista crowned Spanish Champion with two races to spare after going from pole to victory on five consecutive occasions, as well as taking a second and a third from the other two rounds.

In 2004 he continued with Seedorf Racing in the World Championship, taking a creditable seventh place overall after finishing on the podium four times, with a second place at Donington Park and thirds at Qatar, Malaysia and Valencia. The youngster started the 2005 season as one of the favourites for the title in the minor category but it proved to be a year to forget, with Seedorf Racing changing their bikes and mechanics - factors Bautista struggled to deal with as he stuttered to 15th place.

For 2006 he has opted for a change of scenery with the switch to the Aspar Team, who will give him everything he needs to get back to his best. Jorge Martinez "Aspar" has declared his belief in the rider, stating: "I want him to have fun on a bike again and give the best of himself, which is a lot."

Alvaro emphasizes from the beginning of the season winning the GP of Spain and leading until the end. The pilot of Talavera maintained this leadership during all the season and was in the GP of Australia when he became World Champion of 125cc, three races before the end of the championship. In a season, Alvaro won eight times and get four second positions, two third, seven fastest laps and eight pole positions. Year 2006 will be for the young of Talavera a season very difficult to improve.

In 2007 he jumped to the quarter of liter, with an official Aprilia with the colours of the Master-Mapfre Aspar-Team. From the beginning, Alvaro surprises by his easy adaptation to the new category. In the second test, in Jerez, he went up to the second drawer of the podium. In Mugello obtained his first victory in 250cc, returning to repeat triumph in the GP of Estoril. Two victories, seven podiums, and one pole, plus the fourth position in the general classification of the World Championship show Alvaro like a hit of the quarter of liter. That year the title of the best rookie of the year was given to him.

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