Bautista pragmatic about Assen accident

When Álvaro Bautista clashed with Scot Racing’s Hiroshi Aoyama at the end of the 250cc race on Saturday at the Alice TT Assen it was not the first time that the popular Spanish star had hit the deck on the last lap in dramatic circumstances.

Memories of Jerez 2008 with Marco Simoncelli came flooding back, but on this occasion it was only Bautista who was unable to complete the race.

Aoyama was in fact fortunate to stay upright as his Honda 250cc machine wobbled due to the touch from Bautista’s front wheel, but the Japanese rider regained control to take the chequered flag and surge 13 points ahead in the title race.

Afterwards Mapfre Aspar rider Bautista commented philosophically, “Before the crash I really thought I could win the race because in the last part of the lap I was faster than Hiroshi. I thought that was my best opportunity, to pass him before the chicane, but on the last lap he came off the gas on the chicane and I was going faster than him, I touched him and I crashed.”

The 24 year-old went on to add, “It’s a shame but I’m happy about the race. I have to forget the crash and think about the fact that I was fast throughout, even though the tyres were not perfect. I was very focused on keeping the same pace. We need to be strong in the next few races because I’m second in the championship with a good distance in respect to first place.”