The first impressions and comments that were made during the two days of testing in Jerez by Toprak Razgatlioglu on the Yamaha M1, with a view to an ambition in MotoGP, meant that smiles were in order. As such, this essay would have given satisfaction, even encouraged a revelation. Then Maio Meregalli, who was there with Lin Jarvis, broke the mood by admitting that, ultimately, he would have expected better from the Turk. A downside that Lin Jarvis almost reinforced by specifying in Austin that Franco Morbidelli still had his priority for 2024, provided that his performance during the Argentine Grand Prix becomes his daily bread. And the WSBK world champion, what did he think of this trial run? Well this…
On the waves of speedweek, we discover a detailed analysis of Toprak Razgatlioglu on his two days of testing that Yamaha had organized for him to Jerez, track shared with test riders from other brands, shortly after he made it known that he was very tempted by an adventure in MotoGP next year. It begins with this: “ I spent two very good days in Jerez. My goal was to do as many laps as possible to get a better understanding of the bike rather than pushing for a fast lap time. But it was still very nice ».
The Turk recalls that it was his second with the M1, but above all his first really serious one: “ Last year in Aragon I was only able to do 20 laps on the MotoGP and the weather wasn't good either. This time in Jerez it was very hot, the track heated up to 50 degrees Celsius ».
After this preliminary, he develops the subject: “ the M1 requires a completely different riding style than my R1 in the Superbike World Championship. The Superbike is much smoother. MotoGP is much stiffer. The tires and the style needed are also completely different. With a Superbike you can do more stops and starts, with the M1 you have to take the speed with you more into the corners. I tried to adjust but it was difficult with my position on the bike because I was sitting too high. I feel more comfortable on the Superbike because I sit better on the bike ».
Toprak Razgatlioglu: “ I really enjoyed it, I didn't have an accident and I left the bike in one piece »
Toprak then insists on the real difference between his R1 and the M1: “ the M1 is a completely different bike. When I moved from Kawasaki to Yamaha, it was easy because the bikes have the same character. But Superbikes and MotoGP are fundamentally different. I appreciate my R1 more. But how long have I been riding with it? This is the fourth year ". He specifies : " I was able to enjoy MotoGP more on the second day, especially on the brakes. But when I sit that high I can't go faster in the corners because I can't feel the front tire and the limit. They told me the bikes were very different and had some concerns about this. But I approached the test as usual ».
Did this test convince him to continue his ambition of joining the Grands Prix or rather dissuade him? “ Every young rider dreams of one day riding a MotoGP “, replied the 33-time Superbike winner. “ This dream came true thanks to Yamaha and I am happy about it. I really enjoyed it, I didn't have any accidents and I left the bike in one piece. It was also nice to have the two days with Lin Jarvis. I went to dinner with him and Andrea Dosoli after the test, which was also important for me. It was a test, let's see what the future holds. Now it is important for me to have a good season and win races again, and I hope I can do that this weekend ».
A weekend at Assen where he will find among others on the track a Danilo Petrucci who took the opposite path, going from MotoGP to WSBK. His opinion is therefore also interesting… “ Toprak has an aggressive braking style, managing to stop in the final part of the corners, but at that moment in MotoGP, you have to let go of the brakes, because of the Michelins » said Petrux on GP One. " For me it's a great talent, he has an excellent background in SBK, but everything is different in MotoGP, Motorcycles Look Like Superbikes, But Not When You Ride Them. Last year, I went from the Dunlop-shod Panigale to the Suzuki MotoGP, in Indonesia it was my first time with an in-line 4-cylinder, and in warm-up, I came within a second of Rins ».
Then he concludes: “ it takes time to go fast in MotoGP, if they think Toprak is the right man, they have to believe it, then he can make it happen. I also don't know what the purpose of this test was, maybe he didn't want to do any damage ". A final remark that Toprak Razgatlioglu actually confirmed.
