A hand on the Superstock 600 title: what Toprak has to do
Amazing Turkish talent could clinch Superstock 600 crown in Portugal.
If Jonathan Rea’s start to the World Superbike season has been mighty impressive, Toprak Razgatlioglu’s dominance of the FIM Europe Superstock 600 Championship has been nothing other than unprecedented. The dazzling Turkish talent, just 18 years of age, holds a 100% win record dating back to Magny-Cours at the end of 2014.
As the Superstock 600 season consists of just eight races, Toprak’s utter supremacy with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing – mentored by three-time World Supersport Champion Kenan Sofuoglu – leaves him in a position to clinch the title at Portimao this weekend, with another three races still to go. It may require a certain set of circumstances, but it could happen.
For Toprak Razgatlioglu to seal the title in Portugal, he must win the race with the following conditions all applying:
- Federico Caricasulo finishes 11th or lower
- Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Gauthier Duwelz finish sixth or lower
- Niki Tuuli finishes fifth or lower
- Andrea Tucci does not finish on the podium
Elsewhere, there are some changes to the line-up. Former Grand Prix racer Toni Finsterbusch of Germany will race in Portugal, substituting for Ilya Mikhalchik at Team Go Eleven. Another former GP racer, Bryan Schouten from The Netherlands, is covering for Gauthier Duwelz at MVR-Racing. Anthony Dumont is out of action, with his place at Agro-On WILsport Racedays being taken by Great Britain’s Josh Harland. On top of this, two Italian wildcards will competing, armed with Yamaha YZR R6 machinery: Vincenzo Lagonigro with the FELICIA BIO team, plus Rodolfo Oliva who enters with Team MotoxRacing.
