The first successes in Spain
The last round of the world championship Barcelona highlighted the talent of the 2021 world champion Toprak Razgatliogluin his first year on the bike BMW. Precisely in Catalonia, the Turkish driver achieved his first two successes with the Bavarian manufacturer, winning Race 1 and the Superpole Race with a spectacular overtaking on Bautista at the last corner of the last lap. Performances that pushed the 27-year-old's manager, Kenan Sofuogluto believe that #54 will soon be able to win the world championship.
Overtaking 'à la Rossi'
Limited to the overtaking on Bautista, who recalled the one made by Valentino Rossi in 2009 on Jorge Lorenzo, it was Sofuoglu himself, five-time Supersport champion, who advised his compatriot to attack at that point: “I think Toprak is one of the strongest riders, especially in the last lap – he declared to the official Superbike channels – in Barcelona it is necessary to launch the last attack in the hairpin bend before the last part of the track. Toprak didn't succeed and I wondered why he didn't try, because I know he usually does it in that kind of corner. He releases the brake, manages to stop the motorbike and fails. I was thinking about second position. At the last corner he found a place to enter and he did. I asked him why he didn't try where he is strongest and he replied: 'There was a big gap, I couldn't try but I didn't give up, I waited for the last corner' and he succeeded.”
Champion already in 2024?
Regarding the seasonal objectives, Sofuoglu then admitted that he had changed his mind after the tests which began late with the M 1000 33: “We really believed in it, but we weren't sure we could win – has explained – after the winter tests I started to believe in it more, but I believed that we could win at Assen or Donington, I didn't expect to win in Barcelona! It's not Toprak's favorite track, but he's very strong. Toprak is in his sixth season in WorldSBK and if I look at all the winter testing, Toprak is stronger this year with BMW, and I understand that he will be the favorite for the title“. World Cup which, according to Sofuoglu, could arrive as early as 2024: “Surely. When we signed, the contract was for two years, but we didn't know when: the first year or the second. We believed more in the second season. After the winter tests, I thought: 'Toprak can win the championship this year with this bike'. The bike is nicer than we expected. Last year we made a big decision with BMW, and I gave a lot of support to Toprak to make it. Many thought we had made the wrong choice. As a rider, I believed the BMW was a great bike. The first time I spoke to BMW, the team and the manager, I also said this. But I thought: “You have a beautiful puzzle, but a piece is missing”, i.e. Toprak. Now everything is going well, and he won in the second round.”
The driver to beat
To win the title this year, obviously, Razgatlioglu will have to overcome competition from a two-time reigning world champion like Alvaro Bautista, recognized by the Turkish manager as the toughest opponent to face. However, for the Spaniard there are other obstacles: “It's a difficult moment for Bautista too – he concluded – because Bulega arrived from Supersport and is immediately setting lap records everywhere and I can understand Bautista's situation: you are number one in the garage and the newcomer, the new teammate makes you feel less safe in your garage. It's a normal thing in racing. It's good for us, honestly!”
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