Suzuki Motor Corporation is pleased to announce that Spaniard Alvaro Bautista will be joining its official MotoGP team in a two year agreement, to contest the 2010 and 2011 MotoGP World Championships.
Bautista was Spanish 125cc champion in 2003 and crowned 125cc World Champion in 2006 He moved up to the 250cc class in 2007 and earned the Rookie of the Year’ title for his impressive results. Bautista was runner-up in the 2008 title race and he is currently in contention for this season’s 250cc championship, sitting in second place with six races remaining. Since his Grand Prix debut in 2002 Bautista has scored 43 podiums including 16 victories (eight in each class). The 24-year-old hails from Talavera de la Reina in Spain, a town approximately 130kms west of Madrid.
Suzuki is very pleased to have achieved the signing of one of the brightest young stars in Grand Prix racing and looks forward to developing a strong relationship and exciting races with Alvaro Bautista.
UPDATE: August 17, 2009 09:45 am
Reports have surfaced Chris Vermeulen’s future with Rizla Suzuki may be in serious jeopardy after the Japanese manufacturer yesterday announced the signing of 250cc title contender Alvaro Bautista from next season.
Speculation is mounting the arrival of the Spanish young gun, who has inked a two-year deal, will force Yandina’s Vermeulen to look elsewhere for a MotoGP start in 2010, with rumours suggesting veteran Loris Capirossi is on the verge of signing a new Suzuki contract.
Should that scenario eventuate, it would end Vermeulen’s four-year association with Suzuki after graduating to the top flight in 2006.
The 27-year-old has endured a disappointing 2009 campaign, his best result a fifth-place finish in round seven of the championship in the Netherlands. Sunshine Coast Daily
Vermeulen is also still in negotiations with Suzuki, but he’s also been in talks with Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal about a YZR-M1 ride.
It’s being considered that a deal with Capirossi has already been agreed and an announcement could be made at the next race in Indianapolis at the end of the month.
Bautista had been expected to sign a deal to join Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez’s new Ducati MotoGP squad. Motorcycle News
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