The two-time Superbike champion spent much ꧟of the day aꦍdapting to the new-style MotoGP machines, which as a result saw the Spaniard finish way down the order.

Bautista finished 22nd in both sessi🌞ons, with only Iker Lecuona behind the Aruba.it Ducati rider.

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But Bautista was quick to point out why he failed to better his position: “I started with a base set-up 🍃from Ducati but because I wasn’t pushing too much it was too hard. We needed to work for the afternoon and we definitely improved the set-up. 

“I improved my lap time by almost two seconds. That means we did a step forward. I don’t feel so comfortable with the bike yet so we ne𝓡ed to make another step for tomo🌼rrow. 

“The feeling will be a bit better and I can say that tod♔ay, I enjoyed riding the bike.”

Having raced in Superpole races since joining the WorldSBK championship, Saturday’s sprint race should be no different for♊ Bautista.

𒅌But before racing begins, Bautista wants to use FP3 as a chance 𒁃to make further improvements ahead of qualifying.

Bautista told MotoGP.com: “For us it’s important to improve the feeling in FP3 and then try to make a good lap ti♛me in qualifyng. 

“The💎n the sprint will be good because practice is practice; I like racing more. Let’s see. Let’s try the new MotoGP forꦑmat.”

Bautista compares MotoGP and Superbike machines

The combination of Bautista and the Panigale V4 R is argua🍬bly the hardest challenge to overcome in two-wheel racing at the mom♏ent.

But after jumping aboard a pro𝕴totype bike for the first time since 2018, it’s clear to Bautista w෴hat the differences are between a Superbike and the much stiffer MotoGP machine. 

“All the bike is very different and the way you have to ride the bik✃e is quite different, especially with the tyres,” said Bautista.&🎶nbsp;

“With the Superbike 🍬I can force more the b💟ike and turn more with the rear. 

“Here, if you turn with the rear you lose traction and never recover. This afternoon I r🍌ode with a mor🌠e MotoGP style.”