Toprak Razgatlioglu is not only a spectacular and fast driver, he is also a resourceful man. Thus, it is customary for a new motorcycle World Champion to be torn between assuming a number 1 on his machine identifying him as the title holder and keeping his favorite plate, out of superstition but also out of commercial interest in derivative products. The Turk, as soon as his crown was assured, declared that he would sport the unit otherwise so precious to his employer Yamaha. But what he didn't say was that he wouldn't give up his 54...
Toprak Razgatlioglu thus managed to get everyone to agree. The proponents of 1 major and lovers of the identity number will find themselves in this new identification plate that the protégé of Kenan Sofuoglu will present during its outings on the track in WSBK.
On the journey of Toprak, his mentor Sofuoglu commented : " we dedicated more than ten years to Toprak to bring it to this level. When I moved him into the STK600 Championship in 2015, he won everything, and everyone started saying I was going to move him to WorldSSP. No. Turkey has enough WorldSSP titles, but I knew Turkey needed a WorldSBK title! In 2016, I immediately entered him in STK1000, and I told him: “we have to build ourselves in World Superbike”. I've spent too many years in WorldSSP, and I can't change anymore, but you are very young, very fresh, very talented. That's why you're going down this path. "
Toprak Razgatlioglu still mentions Turkey
« Toprak didn't like it so much. He wanted to do like Kenan Sofuoglu and race in World Supersport. I told him, “I’m going to make you bigger than Kenan! Respect and follow my ideas”. He said to me: “The time you put me on the 1cc, I felt very bad. But today I am so proud that you made this decision”. We have invested so that our country can raise it to this level. Today the day has arrived. He entered the history of our countrys. "
In fact, we are still waiting for the date that will allow Toprak Razgatlioglu to get to know the Yamaha M1 of MotoGP…
