Alvaro Bautista is targeting another strong result in front of his home crowd ahead of the inaugural Aragon Grand Prix as he steps up to the role of Rizla Suzuki team leader this weekend.
The Spaniard will go it alone in the team after
Loris Capirossi was ruled out with his hand injury, but Bautista is confident the level playing field presented by the Motorland Aragon circuit will help him make amends.
Having already ridden the circuit earlier this season, albeit on a street bike, Bautista is hoping a return to home soil – for the third time this year – will help him replicate his fifth place finish in Barcelona back in July.
“I am really excited about this race as it is a new circuit for everyone and we are all starting from the same place. It will be good to have an extra practice on the Friday so we can get the bike set-up and start to learn the track as soon as possible.
“We went there earlier in the year for a PR event and rode some street bikes around the circuit; it is a great facility and one that I am looking forward to racing at. It is a shame for Loris that he won't be here and it puts more responsibility on me as I'm the only Rizla Suzuki rider, but I am determined to get a good result for the whole team in front of another home crowd for me.”