Toprak Razgatlıoğlu shows blistering pace at Barcelona testing with Pata Yamaha with Brixx R1 WorldSBK 2022
The reigning world champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu achieved the best lap time during the two days of pre-testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, while he and his teammate Andrea Locatelli of the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK team continued their preparations for the start of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship in Spain.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu took to the track for the first time with the number 1 on his Yamaha R1 WorldSBK on Friday, completing 82 of his 133 laps in total, but it was on Saturday that the team was able to take a step forward. This allowed him to achieve a time of 1'40.571 and take first place, ahead of 19 riders out of the 24 WorldSBK riders present. The Turkish champion finished the test more than two tenths ahead of his closest rival Alvaro Bautista (Dozens).
Pata Yamaha Team engineers from Brixx WorldSBK and Yamaha Motor Europe worked hard during the two days of testing to finalize electronic and mechanical improvements for the 2022 season, making progress in both the dry and wet as that rain fell from noon on Saturday.
The official WorldSBK test at MotorLand Aragón will provide two additional days of testing ahead of the opening round of the 2022 season, which will take place at the same venue from April 8-10.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, P1 (1'40.571) – 133 laps, Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK: “ Yesterday, for me, was not an easy day because we tried to find the settings, but the feeling was not very good. But this morning the start was very positive because we found a good set up and discovered the problem, and also made a very good lap time for me! Then we tried the new tire from Pirelli, but the rain started. We were able to try the new electronics in the wet, which also worked very well. We are still improving the settings with the electronics and I am very happy today. It's a good feeling and I'm ready to race. We have one more test in Aragon, where we will try new settings and new parts. »
Phil Brown, Team leader of No. 1: “ Yesterday we understood some limitations with the bike, and fortunately we were able to understand the direction we needed to take for today. We had a very unhappy rider last night and in the first few runs today he was reasonably happy but not quite convinced by the package. But in the afternoon, Toprak was completely satisfied with the progress made with the electronics package and hardware package on the R1 WorldSBK. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to try the improved electronics in the wet and it was very beneficial, not only for Toprak, but also for us. He had the opportunity to navigate it and we had the opportunity to look at it from an analytical point of view. We still have work to do in Aragón, and what we've done here has helped us, but the fact that we've already been to Aragón is bound to help us too, so we're raring to go. »
WSBK Tests Catalonia J2: times
1. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (TR), Yamaha, 1:40.571
2. Álvaro Bautista (E), Ducati: 1:40.952
3. Iker Lecuona (E), Honda, 1:41.033
4. Jonathan Rea (GB), Kawasaki, 1:41.168
5th Garrett Gerloff (USA), Yamaha, 1:41.320
6th Michael Rinaldi (I), Ducati, 1:41.610
7th Scott Redding (GB), 1:41.636
8th Xavi Virgin (E), Honda, 1:41.724
9 Philipp Öttl (D), Ducati, 1:41.735
10 Lucas Mahias (F), Kawasaki, 1:41.744
11 Andrea Locatelli (I), Yamaha, 1:41.946
12 Alex Lowes (GB), Kawasaki, 1:41.999
13 Kohta Nozane (J), Yamaha, 1:42.509
14 Ilya Mikhalchik (UA), BMW, 1:42.763
15 Eugene Laverty (IRL), BMW, 1:43.305
16 Loris Baz (F), BMW, 1:43.761
17 Luca Bernardi (I), Ducati, 1:43.823
18 Oliver König (CZ), Kawasaki, 1:44.855
19 Loris Cresson (B), Kawasaki, 1:45.400
20 Hafizh Syahrin (MAL), Honda, 1:45.539
21. Tati Mercado (RA), Honda, did not race
