Marco Bezzecchi
Toprak Razgatlioglu has made a bullish claim about what he could achieve if Yamaha’s bike was stronger through the corners.
Razgatlioglu qualified 21st for the Czech Grand Prix last weekend, slowest of the full-time riders. He acknowledges that single-lap pace is his biggest weakness right now.
The Turkish rider climbed to 11th in the Sprint, matching his best result as a MotoGP rider (even if no points were awarded) and then finished 14th in the Grand Prix.
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Toprak Razgatlioglu: I could hit consistent 1:53s at Brno
While Razgatlioglu was the highest-ranking Yamaha after Alex Rins and Fabio Quartaro retired, he made it clear that his position on Sunday meant nothing to him. He’s used to fighting for race wins and championships in World Superbikes.
Razgatlioglu has admitted lacking motivation at times after the transition from frontrunner to underdog, but says he gives everything even when the cameras aren’t following him.
“In the Superbike World Championship, you fight for wins,” he said, via Speedweek. “Here, I’m fighting for 14th place. That’s the big difference. 14th place doesn’t really mean anything to me. The points are better than nothing, but 14th place isn’t for me.
Would Nicolo Bulega completing an unbeaten World Superbike season eclipse Toprak Razgatlioglu’s career achievements in WSBK?
“Whether someone saw it or not doesn’t matter. Nobody looks at 14th place. I fight for myself. I never give up. That was the case in the Superbike World Championship as well.”
Speaking on Saturday, Razgatlioglu suggested he had 1:53 pace in him at Brno. Looking at the lap times from the main race, only the top five finishers – Marc Marquez, Ai Ogura, Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Joan Mir – had that kind of speed.
“My race pace isn’t bad,” he said, again via Speedweek. “But if I had a bike with slightly better cornering, we could consistently do 1:53 laps. That would be a good time. Instead, we’re more in the 1:54 range.”
Razgatlioglu is testing Yamaha’s 850cc 2027 bike on Monday as part of the private session featuring all five manufacturers. He hopes that will be the first step towards truly announcing himself in the premier class next year.
With nine races gone, he sits 21st in the championship on 11 points, level with Pramac teammate Jack Miller.
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