Image: Supplied.

Defending Superbike World champion Alvaro Bautista has completed a two-day MotoGP test at Misano, lapping at a credible pace despite no real push in time attack mode.

It was the Spaniard’s first outing onboard a MotoGP bike since 2018, and he was given the opportunity to sample the GP22 this week at Misano as a reward for his WorldSBK Championship win last year.

“It was a good test. I had a lot of fun getting back on the Ducati Desmosedici GP and I’m satisfied with the work we did,” Bautista said. “Between the first and second day, the feeling improved, also thanks to the team and Ducati, who put me in a position to adjust the bike with some changes that helped me feel even more comfortable. We also worked to find confidence with different tyre solutions and the results were tangible.

“The time? It’s not important, also because I never pushed for the time, there was no reason to take risks. The future? The future is at Donington and Imola. We have two very close rounds and after this good experience I just have to think about the WorldSBK championship.”

Bautista completed close to 100 laps across the two days, with his best time of 1m32.590s recorded on day two, using soft tyres on lap seven of the fourth run. The pole position time last year was a 1m31.899s set by Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), while the fastest lap of the race was a 1m31.868s set by Enea Bastianini on lap 27, using a hard front medium rear combo.

The ground temperature was 42 degrees during the San Marino GP last year, while the track temp was 49 degrees when he posted his best lap of the test.

Bautista’s attention now shifts back to his WorldSBK Championship duties, with the season continuing next weekend in Donington. The Aruba.It Racing Ducati rider holds a commanding 86-point advantage ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) after the first five rounds.