A third place for Alvaro Bautistaဣ cam🎶e despite pain in the ribs he broke at the French Round two weeks ago.

Starting 13th, ♐reigning champion Bautista climbed his way up to the bottom step of the podium by the en🧜d, but it took him five or six laps to get going.

“It was a difficult Saturday,” Bautista ex🃏plained to WorldSBK.com. “When I pushed more, I felt I was missing some strength in my ribs.

“In the first few laps I felt pain so could not fight other riders 🉐and just tried to stay𓃲 on bike.

“So, I said ‘after five or six laps if I still have this feeling I𒐪 hav♐e to retire’.

“Lap after lap, I started to feel l🍎ess pain and felt I could move better so could be more aggressive, improve my pace. I could start𒐪 overtaking.

“I didn't expect to finish on the podium, so I’m really happy. I didn't even know if I could raඣce this weekend, so to finish on the podium after starting at the back is a really nice feeling. Now I have to recover for tomorrow.”

Turning his attention to Sunday, Bautista focused particularly on Race 2, which he has crashed in on each occasion since the UK round at Doningt🎐on.

“The feeling’s back from some races ago” Bautista said. “Maybe the results don’t sh🍌ow our real potential. We missed Race 2 at Most and also Portimao, Magny-Coꦐurs in the dry I think we were competitive as well and here I’m injured. I’m not 100 percent.

“For one reason or another, we can’t show our real potential. In any case, I’m hꦇappy because me and the team are working the best we can and we arಌe trying to do our best.

“I hope, tomorrow, I don’t feel worse than today and I🉐 can have more performance.”