Alvaro🌸 Bautista has downplayed his hopes in this weekend🦋’s World Superbikes opening round.

The WSBK champion arrives at the Phiꦫllip Island round after battling nerve damage, suffered at the postseason test last year.

The one-day test earlier this week was Bautis🌸ta’s sole opp🃏ortunity to ride pain-free.

“After the last day of the test, I fe✱lt a bit ▨better,” he said.

“My physical condition improved a lot from the test before. I am happy. 🧔It was the first time in preseason that I could feel the bike, to try to increase performance.

“I don’t feel in my [top shape]. But♐ in my mind, there are no worries about pain anymore.

“I can focus on my feeling with the bike.

“For sure, it won’t be an easy weekend for us.

“It’📖s been a tough winter for me. I worked to recover as soon as possible.

“But it was very slow. I couldn’t train ಌli𒆙ke a normal winter.

“We have to accept it.”

Bautista has 𒉰won two WSBK titles in a row but ♋insists that victory in the first race of this title defence is beyond him.

“For sure, I have no expectation this weekend꧒,” he sai𝓰d.

“It is a long championship🐈. It is only the first race, we don’t have to be crazy.

“Recover feeling with the bike, that’s it.

“No expectation, no result, no pressure. Just arrive to our best with “the ma🎀ximum that we can.”

So, who will win?

Bautista has seen Jonathan Rea join Yamaha, Nicolo Bulega shine with Ducati, and Tꦚoprak Razgatliogl💟u link up with BMW to renew their challenges.

“Tests are tests, races are races,” Bautista saꦛid.

“It’🐼s difficult. The grid of ‘24 is really competitive with a lot of really fast riders.

“I won’t bet myꦅ money because anyth🍰ing can happen…”