Alvaro Bautista - A Biography
(*Source: Aspar Media)

Alvaro Bautista was born on the 21st 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, 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 opted for a change of scenery with the switch to the Aspar Team, who gave him everything he needed to get back to his best. Jorge Martinez "Aspar" 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 showed strongly from the very beginning of the season winning the GP of Spain and leading until the end. The rider from Talavera maintained this leadership across the entire season and was at the GP of Australia that he became 125cc World Champion, three races before the end of the championship. In that season, Alvaro won eight times and get four second positions, two third, seven fastest laps and eight pole positions. 2006 will remain a season that it is very difficult for Alvaro to improve upon.
 
In 2007 he jumped to 250cc, with an official Aprilia with the Master-Mapfre Aspar-Team. From the beginning, Alvaro surprised all with his easy adaptation to the new category. In the second race, in Jerez, he went up to the second step of the podium. In Mugello he took his first victory in 250cc, returning to garner another victory in the GP of Estoril. Two victories, seven podiums, and one pole, plus the fourth position in the overall classification of the World Championship show Alvaro enjoed the experience of 250cc. Also that year the title of the best rookie of the year was given to him.
 
Nowadays Alvaro lives in Talavera de la Reina with his parents. He is a very funny and happy young man, and shy as well. During the races he is a very concentrated guy but when it is all over he is more open and fun. Alvaro loves skiing and mountain biking, as well as supermotard - always with his friend and manager Armando Guerrero. Outside the world of the sport he enjoys himself going out and travelling with his friends Carlos and Alex.

Alvaro Bautista - Bati Facts

Date of Brith: 21st November 1984
Place of Birth: Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Nicknames: Álvaro, Bati
Race Debut: 2002
First Championship Points: Donington Park 2003
First Podium: Donington Park, 2004
First Win (125cc): Jerez, 2006
Frist Win (250cc): Mugello, 2007
First Championship: MotoGP 125cc, 2006
Team: MVA Aspar Aprilia (250cc)
Helmet: Suomy (2008) - formerly NZi
Leathers: Clover
Boots: TCX
Favourite Circuit: Donington Park (It was Assen prior to 2006 changes)