Toprak Razgatlioglu, after a series of intense races, has expressed his belief that the BMW has a speed advantage over the Yamaha in straight lines. This perspective has led him to think that he might stand a better chance against the Bautista-Ducati combination in 2024 if he’s on a BMW.
The frustration was evident for Razgatlioglu after losing to Alvaro Bautista at Portimao. In both the Superpole Race and Race 2, he was overtaken in the final corner, first being pushed inside and then outside. His anger towards these overtakes led him to vent his frustration on his Yamaha R1, blaming it for the lack of acceleration and power to counter the Ducati.
Razgatlioglu has committed to BMW’s WSBK project for the 2024-2025 period. Reflecting on the M 1000 RR after the Portugal round, he stated, “Everyone knows that the Ducati is the best bike, and I ride a Yamaha. It seems the BMW is faster in a straight line, so maybe I have a better chance. If I adapt quickly, I believe I’ll have a better shot at winning here and on other tracks.”
Razgatlioglu further emphasized, “Everyone knows that the Ducati is the best bike, and I ride a Yamaha.” The 2021 Superbike champion is convinced that he can better counter the Bautista-Ducati combination with the BMW, especially in straight lines. However, straight-line speed alone won’t be enough, as Bautista’s cornering skills, aided by his unique riding style, are also formidable. For Toprak, the challenge will be to adapt his braking style to the M 1000 RR, similar to what he’s achieved with the Yamaha R1 over the years. Garrett Gerloff has already cautioned that this won’t be an easy task.
BMW is determined to provide Razgatlioglu with the best possible conditions. The company has invested heavily in him and their Superbike project. Their goal is to clinch the championship title, a feat they haven’t achieved since joining the competition. The closest they came was with Marco Melandri in 2012.
Razgatlioglu has received assurances from BMW, which has already initiated internal changes and plans more for the future. It remains to be seen if these efforts will be enough to overcome Bautista and Ducati in 2024.
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