Rizla Suzuki Announces Alvaro Bautista Returning at Estoril MotoGP Round

The #19 Rizla Suzuki GSV-R of Alvaro Bautista sits on display outside the team's garages during the Indianapolis RedBull Moto GP round in August of 2010.  Suzuki kept Bautista in the saddle for the 2011 season as the team's only rider, and after his injury at Qatar in the season opener, drafted former team rider John Hopkins to contest the team's machine in Jerez for round 2.  The rumors are still running deep that Suzuki won't be on the grid for the 2012 season, unless it would be contesting the current bike in the new-for-2012 '1000' class.
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Rizla Suzuki team rider Alvaro Bautista was cleared to ride the team's GSV-R this weekend in round 3 action at the Estoril Circuit in Portugal, after breaking his femur in the season opener at Qatar just over 40 days ago.  With MotoGP having a three week break due to the earthquake disaster in Japan, and postponement (and still possbile cancelation) of the Motegi round, Bautista was afforded a little more time to recuperate after his injury.  Action kicks off tomorrow in Portugal and Bautista and Rizla Suzuki will make a determination after the first free practice session if he is up to racing for the whole weekend or not.

Here's the official press release thanks to the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team:

http://www.rizla-suzuki-motogp.co.uk/news/story.asp?story=20110428141344_SUZUKI
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