Between Manuel Puccetti and Kenan Sofuoglu, and through the latter the whole generation of Turkish drivers spearheaded by Toprak Razgatlioglu, it is a close relationship which goes beyond the simple sporting aspect. All these beautiful people experienced their hours of glory together, with world titles, under the Kawasaki seal. So if you want to know a little more about the why and how of Toprak's sensational transfer from Yamaha to BMW, you should knock on his door...
Ve that GP One did in an interview where we learned that the 2021 WSBK World Champion with Yamaha was also in negotiations with Kawasaki, a brand which, let us remember, revealed it: “ there was a negotiation between Kenan and Kawasaki top management and it was one of the three main offers he had: renewal with Yamaha, BMW and the Kawasaki option » says the Italian who will line up Tito Rabat on his ZX-10R for the rest of the season, in place of Tom Sykes, left for BMW, and after a short interlude with Lucas Mahias.
On a relationship with Yamaha which suddenly went out, Manuel Puccetti identifies the ultimately disappointing MotoGP test as the breaking point: “ on one or both sides the spark they might have expected did not strike, or they saw that it was more difficult than expected. So the reasoning was born that it was perhaps better to stay in WSBK and perhaps evaluate new motivations, as he himself made it known after signing ».
Manuel Puccetti: “ it's definitely a big challenge »
The boss of the eponymous team adds: “ he probably saw a reason to stay in Superbike, but with something that gives him great desire. Toprak is one of the champions who runs to win. As his manager Kenan taught him, finishing second is like finishing last ". Certainly, but at the stage where the M1000RR is, make it a reality with a BMW remains a challenge for the moment. Given the stakes and mutual expectations, are we not also at risk of resounding failure?
The Italian replies: “ the risk is certainly on both sides, but the one that is already the big winner is the championship. Because now we have six months ahead of us in which we will wonder how Toprak will fare at BMW, while waiting for the winter tests in November. I think the BMW package is extremely competitive in terms of engine. Maybe they'll have other things to work on, but it's definitely a big challenge ».
Puccetti finished : " I have the greatest respect for Toprak, because I am convinced that he is a champion, and I believe that he will be able to take this package to the highest level and to victory, as he did with my team in 2018 and 2019. He gave us 15 podiums and a few victories. And we're a satellite team, not a factory team with resources 20 times our size, world-class technicians and tons of testing ».
