At least that's what we should hope for. Toprak Razgatlioglu and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Superbike team after a week-long Iberian journey spent looking for a dry track…
After having suffered the rain in Portimão then in Jerez, the Bavarian team decided to change its approach and go to Valencia to try to conduct two days of testing there, finally in the dry.
Nay! Whether his name is Aeolus, Tlaloc, Chaac or Anzar, the god of rain had decided to honor the M 1000 RR of Toprak Razgatlioglu et Michael Van der Mark of its unwelcome liquidity, and it is therefore with too little taste that the two officials of the propeller brand set off on vacation.
Nevertheless, after this handling interspersed with long moments of waiting, the Turkish pilot wants to be resolutely positive and is already looking forward to returning to his machine at the end of January after a well-deserved break.
On the official website WorldSBK.com, he declares : “We haven't had much luck the last few days. In Valencia too, it started to rain a little on Friday morning and the track was completely wet. But the track dried very quickly and we were able to ride again in the afternoon. We have made big progress, especially in the last three outings, and I really like the BMW M 1000 RR. We have greatly improved the engine braking and electronics. Every lap I'm still getting to know my bike, but now I know it, I understand its grip and its reactions, and I'm very happy. I'm still learning because it's a completely different bike, but we did a really good job, especially on the last day. Thanks to the whole team, because everyone is working hard to give me a good bike. I'm still adapting and the team members are learning my riding style, so it's a collective effort. But we are not far away, we are arriving, the feedback is better every day. »
Marc Bongers, Director of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, specifies: “After the Bonovo Action BMW team carried out testing with Garrett Gerloff and Scott Redding immediately after the season finale in Jerez, we were now able to start testing with Toprak Razgatlioglu, Michael Van der Mark and the ROKiT BMW team Motorrad WorldSBK. Overall, it's a pleasure to welcome Toprak to the team. The first impressions he gave us of the BMW M 1000 RR were very positive. He immediately adapted well to the bike. However, the conditions were difficult and we had no opponents. It is therefore still difficult to make an assessment. The days in Portugal and Spain were trying. The weather was not on our side. We first had bad luck in Portimao and were only able to complete a few laps; the situation was not better in Jerez. As it was crucial to gather information about the tests, we spontaneously went to Valencia with Michael and Toprak to ride with the BMW Motorrad Motorsport test team. Michael also tested new components that will be made available to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Bonovo Action BMW Team for the upcoming season. »
???? @wheelspics_
