Image: Supplied.

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team has confirmed the extension of current Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) leader Alvaro Bautista through the 2023 season.

Bautista, 37, made his WorldSBK debut with the squad in 2019 and scored 16 victories on route to finishing the championship runner-up.

After switching to Team HRC in the paddock for two years, Bautista returned to Aruba.it Racing Ducati for 2022 and has enjoyed a successful season to date – leading the series by 36 points. 2023 will mark his third year in WorldSBK with the team.

“I am very happy to be able to continue at least one more year with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team, which represents a family to me,” Bautista said.

“I have always felt good with this team and since I have returned, the feelings have been even more positive than in the 2019 season. When something works so well, we can only keep working, looking ahead.

“I feel I am still at the top, I feel I can still give a lot. Physically and mentally I think this is the best time of my career. I am also delighted to continue working with Ducati, a very important factory, tech-oriented, always looking for development: to be part of this project, of this team is something incredible on a personal level.”

The Spaniard has scored six wins across the four rounds contested thus far in 2022 and will be looking to add that tally when the WorldSBK Championship resumes at Donington on 15-17 July.