WSBK, Alvaro Bautista corrects: “Toprak Razgatlioglu doesn't brake better than me, it's just a different method of slowing down the bike”

One of the great moments of the last WSBK season was this stage in Portimao where Alvaro Bautista on his Ducati and Toprak Razgatlioglu on the handlebars of his Yamaha engaged in a Homeric duel for victory. At every lap and every moment on the track, the duo went blow for blow. However, the way the battle unfolded left the impression that the Turk was trying to compensate for the weaknesses of his R1 with his driving while the Spaniard only had to turn the handle of his Panigale V4 to counter. attack, and ultimately win. A physiognomy, particularly in the braking phase that the now double World Champion would like to rectify...

In Portimão and also Jerez, Alvaro Bautista et Toprak Razgatlioglu offered Superbike fans spectacular battles for the top position, ultimately confirmed under the checkered flag by the rider Ducati. But the moral winner was undoubtedly the official Yamaha at the end of a joust which was reminiscent of the one told between David and Goliath. A shortcut which would be an injustice according to Baptist.

Public chat speedweek, the two-time consecutive World Champion in the category reserved for production motorcycles made this point: “ when I ride alone, I use different lines than Toprak with his Yamaha. It depends on the riding style, but also on the bike. ».

Alvaro Bautista: “ Toprak's style is better for fighting for position as it gives him better options in front of the corner »

Then he analyzes: “ you have to slow down the Ducati in a straight line, not in a leaning position. Things are different with Toprak and his Yamaha. On the straight he can stay on the accelerator longer and enter the corner with more speed. This doesn't work with the Ducati. On the other hand, with the V4R I can exit corners faster and have better traction to get the bike upright sooner than him. The characteristics of your riding style and your motorcycle are crucial ».

In public, however, the braking maneuvers cleverly demonstrated by Razgatlioglu are highlighted as exceptional, while the apparently easy overruns of Baptist thanks to its power Ducati are minimized… “ When people say that Toprak brakes better than me, that's not true. It's just a different method of slowing down the motorcycle », Specified the Spaniard. “ If you take the time between braking and exiting the corner, it will make almost no difference. But Toprak's style is better for fighting for position because it gives him better options in front of the corner ».

It remains that for 2024, Toprak Razgatlioglu decided to no longer experience this type of situation by abandoning his agile Yamaha for the BMW, which would have as much firepower as the Ducati. The Turk would now have the same arguments on this point as the Spaniard. It will then be interesting to see how the driving style can actually make the difference between the two champions.