So far this season, Toprak Razgatlioglu has not managed to open his WSBK win locker. The Turkish rider, on the hunt for Álvaro Bautista and Jonathan Rea, could be waiting for Misano to give the big surprise.
After the first three tests of the year and nine races without climbing to the top of the championship podium, Razgatlioglu is third in the standings, 52 points behind Bautista.
Toprak’s situation truncates his plan to retain the title, which is severely threatened by the rider from Talavera de la Reina. “Everyone in the team is an experienced group and we all know not to panic,” introduced Phil Marron, Turkish crew chief.
“That’s the worst thing we could do. We have to continue with what we are doing, and everything will fall into place. In my opinion, there is no need to hit the panic button yet. We just have to stay calm and make sensible decisions, logical decisions , that is the best we can do”, he analyzed for the official page of the championship.
Last year, Marron witnessed his driver write his name in gold letters in the history of two wheels. However, this course seems different for the team.
“What I did notice in Estoril was that he had the tools to compete, whereas in the first two events he didn’t really have them, we were behind and a bit on the defensive. He just didn’t have the package that should allow him to attack how he wanted.” .
“We saw that last year he focused on the game, with an eye on the prize and not caring so much about the absolute time. That was the whole last year. This year we started with that, but there has always been, I would not say a distraction, but he has been aware of what others were doing rather than focusing solely on what we were doing.
“Toprak is more concerned with what others are doing than with himself,” says his team leader
Along these lines, many rumors have linked Toprak to a possible jump to MotoGP. At the moment, the transfer market of the sister paddock is going through a critical place that limits this possibility. What is certain is that the Turkish star will test the MotoGP Yamaha for the first time in an upcoming test.
“The first time I brought up the subject of MotoGP with him was in the early days in the Puccetti garage, after the first month of working together and seeing what he was capable of on a bike, I mentioned the opportunity to him and if he wouldn’t consider going to the other paddock,” recalled Marron.
“Then he gave the same answer that he would give if I had asked him last week. He likes the WorldSBK paddock. If it is his choice, he will stay in WorldSBK, he loves this paddock. I believe him when he says it. He experienced that paddock with the Rookies Cup, and has experienced the WorldSBK paddock, and enjoys the friendliest and most relaxed atmosphere. That’s no disrespect to MotoGP, I’ve worked in that paddock and really enjoyed it.”
“He has always maintained that WorldSBK is his paddock. If the stars aligned and he had the opportunity to go there, I am sure he would take it. He adapts very quickly, so I think he could ride anything. He has incredible sensitivity with the front tyre, so I’m pretty sure I’d figure out how to get the most out of that package if I got the chance.”
