Alvaro Bautista aims for Tech 3 battle

Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista has set his sights on challenging Monster Yamaha Tech 3 duo Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow in forthcoming MotoGP races.

The Gresini Honda rider enjoyed his best ride of 2012 at the previous round in Catalunya to finish sixth.

It was his third sixth position in the opening five races but the closest he has finished to the podium, with Dovizioso just over four seconds ahead in Montmelo in third place.

The former factory Suzuki rider is now hoping to challenge Dovizioso and Crutchlow in the battle to become leading non-factory rider.

Dovizioso and Crutchlow have been easily the best satellite team riders in 2012, having only finished outside the top five twice.

That was when both crashed out of podium contention in a rain-hit Le Mans race and Bautista told MCN: “I expect to be closer to the top now. In Barcelona we finished only four seconds from the podium, so we go forward each time.

“The last sixth was different to the other two where I was losing time compared to the front group. But in Barcelona I was catching. It wasn’t by much but at least I was catching and I expect a bigger step in Silverstone now.

“To get into the top three with Casey (Stoner), Jorge (Lorenzo) and Dani (Pedrosa) is going to be difficult because they are so strong right now. My target is to fight with Tech 3 and that means being in the top five, which is a good result.”

See the June 13 issue of Motor Cycle News for a 16-page guide to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.