Toprak Razgatlioglu joined the ROKiT BMW team this year to start a new chapter in his World Superbike career. The manufacturer’s investment already seems to justify itself, with the Turkish rider achieving the team’s first victories in several years as early as the second round of the season. Loris Baz is paying close attention and is truly impressed by the Turkish rider.
In an interview with paddock-gp.com, the rider who will compete in MotoAmerica this year stated: ‘For me, Toprak is one of those motorcycle racing geniuses like [Marc] Márquez can be or like [Casey] Stoner was. These are guys who have something extra, it’s visible. I’ve always said that I would like to see Toprak in MotoGP because he’s someone who has an ability, a feeling for the front wheel and brakes, that I’ve rarely seen. So, as soon as I knew he was coming, I knew he was going to perform’.
In addition to Razgatlioglu’s abilities, Baz witnessed changes within BMW itself over the past year: ‘There were changes made halfway through the season at BMW last year, very important ones in the organization, in the way of developing with this test team and everything. These are things we’ve been asking for for a while and were done last year. So, halfway through last year, and that’s why I wanted to stay here, because I felt there was a new momentum, new things. I think it works, in fact, Toprak has proven it’.
And at this point, the Frenchman no longer rules out the possibility of winning the title in 2024: ‘I said that I didn’t believe in the title in the first year, but now, let’s see: I may have changed my mind because he’s so exceptional. What he did in Barcelona, I rarely saw that, and he’s strong. I know the flaws of the bike, and not everything can be changed because it’s not a new bike that was approved, and the way he rides truly erases the flaws it [the bike] has’.