WSBK Superbike: “Razgatlıoğlu is probably the best brakeman in the world”

The Turkish rider has brought a breath of fresh air to Superbike this season. Not only by putting an end to Jonathan Rea's series of titles, but also by his relaxed personality and his aggressive, braking driving on the track. 

In many ways, the 2021 Superbike season will have been historic. Firstly because of Turkey's first title in the discipline, obtained through Toprak Razgatlioğlu, then by the end of the series of a sacred monster of the category, which until now remained on a series of six consecutive titles, namely Jonathan Rhea.

It is true that it took regulatory constraints, and in particular the deprivation of 1500 rpm from the Kawasaki, to achieve such a result, but we cannot fail to emphasize that the multiple British World Champion also demonstrated nervousness this season, and on more than one occasion.

 

 

The former number 1 was indeed guilty of several errors at critical moments, whether during Race 1 contested at Most in the heart of the summer, while Razgatlıoğlu seemed more than ever in bad shape at the championship following his fratricidal clash in Assen with Garrett gerloff (while Rea at the same time scored a hat-trick in the Netherlands) or, even more significantly, at the very end of the season when he seemed to crack under pressure by falling during the first two races at Portimão.

This anxiety can largely be attributed to increased competition this season in Superbike. There was thus Scott Redding, who remained mathematically in the title race until very late in the calendar, and who never failed to pull off a brilliant coup and play spoilsport at the front.

 

Razgatlıoğlu: braking established as a state of art

Then there was above all the ever more determined competition from Razgatlıoğlu. The Turkish driver, author of "only" three Superpoles this season, while for his part Rea remained undefeated until the ninth round in the qualifying exercise, to do so resorted to an atypical driving style, reminiscent of sure that of his mentor and five-time Supersport World Champion, Kenan Sofuoğlu, makes heavy braking and always takes measured risks, to the point of being adorned on social networks and in the paddock with the nickname “Stoprak”!

“If you compare Toprak's path and mine, you will notice that he pushed his pawns much better”, thus underlines Sofuoğlu to the Superbike official website. “When I took him under my wing, it wasn't easy for him because I was very efficient then and I was a very big brakeman. But in the end we now realize that Toprak is probably the best brakeman in the world. I think that even if we take the MotoGP riders, we won't find anyone better than him at braking. He really structured his riding around that, and he took the art of braking to new limits. In this sense, it is clear that he is better than me. »

“I think that even if we take the MotoGP riders, we won’t find a better brakeman in the world than Toprak”

 

A riding style and tactics that have proven themselves on the track, and which allowed the Yamaha rider, often also helped by better starts than his rival from Kawasaki, to never let the latter escape during the races and thus be able to lead them in his own hands.

Razgatlioğlu also distinguished himself in his numerous close fights with his competitors, once again counterbalancing a power deficit with heavy braking at the end of the straight, even if it meant being the author of sometimes muscular maneuvers, as was the case in the last lap of Race 1 at Most against Scott Redding, where victory was at stake. A skirmish which provoked the ire of the Ducati rider, who by that time had already set a lot of angles in his turn and was about to land his knee.

 

Aggression, the key word of Razgatlioglu’s driving

But Razgatlioğlu is made like this: a sometimes die-hard driver (we will however insist here on the fact that the Turk has never been the cause of the slightest accident with another driver this season), but always respectful of his opponents. “He is an outstanding fighter”, confirms Sofuoğlu. “He is not only a fast driver, he is a driver who never gives up. You know, he didn't get the title easily this season. Jonathan Rea is indeed a reference, he had won the last six titles until this year, and to beat this man you have to be very strong and very talented, but also very well structured as a driver. »

“Toprak is an outstanding fighter, a pilot who never gives up”

 

Something that the Turk seems to be, without a doubt. Indeed, faced with the perfection displayed year after year by Rea, it was necessary to have an organized character and a foolproof mentality to overcome the six-time World Champion. A duel which took shape round after round until reaching peaks of intensity at the end of the season. A scenario which only makes the title more appreciable and tasty for the Turkish pilot's clan: “Toprak really beat someone who can be considered the best Superbike rider of all time”, insists Sofuoğlu. “Jonathan Rea is always an excellent driver, and to beat this type of opponent I can tell you that you have to give yourself, and in all conditions: when it's hot, when it's cold, when it rains. »

 

“It's definitely not an easy thing to accomplish. The title was really difficult to win, but that's a good thing, because to maintain the will to fight throughout your career, it's much better to win your first title after a long fight, and that's what ' said Toprak. » Given the feat accomplished by the latter, there is no doubt that the Yamaha rider should still have many good days ahead of him in the category.

“To maintain the will to fight throughout your career, it is better to win your first title after a long fight”