Toprak Razgatlioglu prefers to laugh about it rather than cry about it but he will keep this episode in his memory. Which ? That of the Kawasaki clan's claim, on the report made by Rea and immortalized in a video, at the finish of the Superpole race, won by the Turk on the Yamaha to the detriment of the Northern Irishman on the Ninja. A complaint which was followed up since the R1 was demoted to second place and the success attributed to the ZX-10R. Kenan Sofuoglu’s protégé comments…
This is the second time in his career that Razgatlioglu at odds with the staff Kawasaki. The first time he was a driver of the brand in WSBK and during the 08 Hours of Suzuka he did not appreciate the fact of not having been asked on the track in this adventure, notably shared with Jonathan Rhea. A feeling of disconsideration endorsed by his manager Sofuoglu who then went to knock on the door of Yamaha , who had opened it wide to collect the talented Toprak.
Today, all these beautiful people find themselves in a controversy born from a claim of Kawasaki against Razgatlioglu which was finally sanctioned for having bitten the green part of the Magny Cours track in the last lap of the Superpole race. Four hours after celebrating, his victory was taken away from him and reallocated to his rival on the Ninja. An episode that had the gift of angering everyone, starting with Yamaha .
Razgatlioglu: “if they are happy like that, that's good, I prefer to laugh about it"
But on the Turkish side, we take it with irony. Even if the message is clear on the general feeling: “ I personally went to the Kawasaki garage to hand over the victory trophy in the Superpole Race, I gave them this pleasure » declared the leader of the World Championship. “ I understand they need points, but I don't even think about it. If they are happy like that, that's good, I prefer to laugh about it. I don't even think about points. I had never won three races in one weekend, I did it and it suits me ».
The boss of the Yamaha company, Paul Denning, used more explicit words: “ congratulations, great victory. From now on, the climate in the paddock will change radically. » It had to happen sooner or later. In two weeks at Montmelò, the Kawasaki track, the climate will certainly be overheated. The nerves are on edge, and that is perhaps what Jonathan Rea wanted, beyond the six points regained in the standings. Make someone lose their temper Toprak Razgatlioglu who, so far, has shown incredible coolness and solidity on the track. We'll see if it continues.
