Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured P1 as testing at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” with a lap time that would’ve turned heads up and down the paddock. The BMW rider was four tenths underneath the existing MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship lap record at the Italian venue as he utilised the SCQ tyre to full effect on Thursday in Italy to claim P1.
The #54 had been quick all day but he saved the best performance to last, chucking on Pirelli’s SCQ tyre designed for Tissot Superpole sessions and Tissot Superpole Races to set a barely believable 1’32.663s. His time was around four tenths quicker than last year’s pole time, a 1’33.017s set by Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati); that time is also the outright lap record at the historic venue.
Reviewing his epic lap and his test day, Razgatlioglu said: “I’m very happy because we tried many parts. This is really positive. Also, I did a very good lap time with the SCX tyre, after I used the SCQ tyre, and I did another very good lap time. I kept working after the SCQ tyre run, using old SCX tyres for 10 laps to understand the new parts. On the last lap, I did a 1’33.5s with the 18-lap old tyres. This is nice. Just at the end, I felt the front with too much stress because the tyres did a lot of laps. I hope we improve more. The electronics setup is now much better, and we improved a lot. Normally, when the put the SCX tyre, the bike immediately changed a lot. Now we’ve found a good setup, and good electronics setup and I’m enjoying it a lot with my bike in the final two hours; we found a good electronics setup, including engine brake. Step by step, we are getting stronger. We’re finding a good setup and trying new parts.”
Despite a strong day and an incredible lap time with new parts tested, Razgatlioglu revealed he was feeling the effects of a crash he had while training at mentor Kenan Sofuoglu’s ranch recently, with the #54 revealing he had ‘a little bit of pain’ in his right shoulder. Although he had a small amount of pain, the 2021 Champion didn’t let it affect him with his incredible lap time and he was still delighted with his, and the team’s, work on Thursday.
Razgatlioglu said: “Today, I’m also a little bit tired because two days ago, I crashed at Kenan’s track. My right shoulder is in a little bit of pain; on track, it’s not bad. I think, because it’s getting warm, I’m not feeling the pain. Only at Turn 10 I am feeling the pain and also the first braking zone, but after it’s okay. I’m very happy because the team’s very happy. We did a good lap time with the SCX tyre and SCQ tyre. Tomorrow, I have three more SCQ tyres… we will see!”
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Source: WorldSBK.com