Alvaro Bautista has downplayed his hopes in this we😼ekend’s World Superbikes opening round.

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

The one-day test earlier this week🤡 was Bautista’s sole opportunity to ride pain-free.

“After the last day of the t𓃲est, I felt 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 incr𒈔ease performance.

“I don’t feel in my [top shape]. But in my mind, therꦰe 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 trainꦕ like a normꦅal winter.

“We have to accept it.”

Bautista has won two WSBK titles in a row but insists that victory in the first race of this title defence is be▨yond him.

“For sure, I h♏ave no expectation this weekend,” he said.

“It is a lon🎉g 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 resu🍰lt, no pressure. Just arrive to our best with “the maximum that we can.”

So, who will win?

🔥Bautista has seen Jonathan Rea join Ya😼maha, Nicolo Bulega shine with Ducati, and Toprak Razgatlioglu link up with BMW to renew their challenges.

“Tests are tests, races are r💙aces,” Bautista said.

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

“I won’t bet my money because ܫanything can ꦦhappen…”