Runaway WorldSBK series leader Alvaro Bautista believes the laptime consistency he learned while racing in MotoGP is one of keys to his Superbike success.

The Aruba Ducati rider is metronomic in his laptime during practice and in races but it also is something seen in past seasons from reigning champion Jonathan Rea too but not so much so far this year as he searches for an answer to the Panigale V4R’s outright pace.

“I try always to be focused and to be very precise. If you see my practice in the lap-by-lap I do more or less always very close laps in timing,” said Bautista at Aragon.

“If you see the other riders they make two laps fast then one lap slower, then three laps fast then two laps slower. So they make more up and down. I work in the practice especially for the race.

In the end the important thing is the race pace and the feeling. So if you have the reference in the practice during the race you have the same reference. So you do not need to change it.

“For example, to do a fast lap you change everything. The way you brake, the point you brake, the way you open the gas, you pick up the bike.

“For the race I always like to work during practice to be with the same reference and same everything. I think it is more coming from the MotoGP category.

“If you see the MotoGP riders, they make all the practice very consistent. Here, in this championship I saw from the beginning that there are more up and down and for sure it is more difficult to be consistent with that kind of practice.”

Bautista lap analysis from Aragon