After more than six weeks since the second round of the 2023 FIM WorldSBK World Championship on the Indonesian island of Lombok, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu is more than ready to tackle the “flip-flop” chicane preceding the main straight of the Assen TT circuit, the “cathedral of speed”, as the Superbike category begins its 2023 European odyssey.
He is familiar with the Dutch track having ridden there many times during his career, as he is with the April weather conditions in the Netherlands, which can range from freezing rain to warm spring sunshine. For this edition, it will be more icy rain, with a maximum of 9° being expected for Saturday…
Currently 2nd in the championship with 37 points behind Alvaro Bautista, the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK rider will have to fight against the evil eye which has never allowed him to win at Assen for Yamaha, even if he took pole there last year and scored four podiums since he took the R1. But Yamaha's last victory was already 14 years ago, with Ben Spies in Race 1, in 2009!
Team leader of his teammate's #1 Yamaha R55 WorldSBK Andrea Locatelli, Andrew Pitt knows Assen well as a victorious pilot on the flat country. According to him, the key to success lies in the choice of tires adapted to the abrasive surface of the track, as well as the stability of the motorcycle at high speed and its ability to change direction. He expects the latest configuration of the 1 Yamaha R2023 WorldSBK used at Mandalika to also perform well at Assen. We will see if the Turkish pilot manages to stop the Dutch curse…
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu : " It's been a long break after Mandalika and the Barcelona tests, I'm happy to be back in Assen! Last year I was a bit unlucky, but as always I do my best, enjoy the race and concentrate on my work. We need to close the gap to Alvaro, but I'm not looking at that, I'm just trying to fight for victory and we'll see what's possible. The Barcelona test was not easy, but there were some good points with the electronics. We are still learning, my team is working to improve my R1 and I hope we can take a step forward at Assen. »
Paul Denning : " Phillip Island and Mandalika have been our best start to the WorldSBK season, with one or two of our riders on the podium at each race, and exceptional results in qualifying. But this is WorldSBK, and with three races every weekend we know anything can happen, which is why we always have to be at the top of our game. The final test in Barcelona was tricky, but Yamaha engineers and the team came away with a wealth of information to continue to advance the development of the R1. We have a balanced package that is ideal for circuits like Assen which are both fast and flowing. Unfortunately, Toprak has never managed to win here, but we will do everything possible to give him a package that will allow him to fight for a Dutch victory this time. Regardless, we look forward to returning to the circuit after this long break, and welcoming more partners and fans to enjoy the European portion of the season, which begins this weekend. »
