The first factory team launch of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship also saw the official presentation of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) as a BMW rider, after four years in Yamaha blue. An intriguing move which has lifted the spirits in the BMW camp, refueled the Turkish rider’s ambition for the new season, and added a huge question mark on the year ahead.
A SUCCESFUL FIRST CONTACT: Toprak dives into the December tests
Taking part in his first public event as a BMW rider, it quickly becomes clear that what Razgatlioglu is truly looking forward to is exactly one week away. Testing resumes at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on the 24th of January, and after a first contact with the M 1000 RR back in December in Portimao, Jerez and Valencia, the 27-year-old, now starting his seventh year in the class, is fully focused.
“I’m always ready”, confirmed Toprak after the livery for his 2024 bike was unveiled. “I did three days of testing, but none were fully dry sessions. Now I’m just waiting for next week, I miss my new bike”.
First impressions, even with the shortened sessions, were positive: “In Portimao, the first time I rode the bike, I was smiling on the straight, because the bike is very fast. We need to just improve some things, but we are not far. We need more laps; we need more kilometers”.
Getting slightly more into detail in terms of the positives and the negatives of the package, Toprak echoed some of the comments previously made by fellow BMW riders. “The electronics, exactly [when prompted on where to improve]. In general, the bike is very good. Especially, the engine brake is unbelievable, the bike is stopping. We just need to improve in some areas, for my style”.
THE QUESTION MARK: how far can the M 1000 RR go?
But perhaps the biggest missing piece to the puzzle is a reference. The December tests took place mostly in track days or with uneven weather. The expectation is for Jerez to paint a bigger picture. “Next week’s test will be very important, because I’ll see all the riders there”, admits Toprak. “I only rode alone, I didn’t see other Superbike riders, I need some riders, some fighting, to see the lap times”.
Razgatlioglu is cautious with his predictions for the season opener, scheduled for the end of February in Australia: “The first race is a little bit difficult. Phillip Island is always a hard race because you need to keep your rear tyre. We’ll see”.
Yet, looking into the future, that caution morphs into a more optimistic outlook, based on what he’s seen so far. “BMW are working every day. This is good. When I see BMW working, I work even more. And if we work like this, I think we can be World Champions. I don’t know if this year or next year, but I believe this, we are not far”.
Follow all the action from next week’s Jerez test, with Razgatlioglu on the BMW, Rea on the Yamaha and Bautista back on his Championship-winning Ducati, thanks to WorldSBK VideoPass!
Source: WorldSBK.com