It has been a strong opening half of the season for Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing), as he’s already achieved two podium finishes and is placed a firm seventh in the standings. In Barcelona however, he was having a medical check-up before sitting down with worldsbk.com and telling us how he believes his season has been so far, whilst also declaring his plans for the rest of 2019.

“Normally, I wait for a while until I start riding well,” began Razgatlioglu. “At the start of the season, I wanted more podiums but I have to wait again, so it is not good for me. Now, after Imola and Jerez, my motivation is really high because of those podiums.”

Razgatlioglu was third at Imola during Race 1, overcoming the likes of Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in a brutal, fairing-bashing battle. Then, in Jerez, the Turkish rider climbed the podium again – on his first visit to the track on a WorldSBK machine.

Toprak continued, saying: “However, I don’t know about Misano, as for me, it is always bad because of my riding style. We will see what happens. With the podiums, I am really happy because now maybe, we can have three – but this season, we don’t know.”

Often in 2019, we have seen Razgatlioglu surge through the order from a lowly Tissot Superpole session which has landed him outside the top ten. Making up 53 positions from his starting places, the 22-year-old from Alanya described what it is that he is lacking during the 25-minute Tissot Superpole sessions on Saturday.

“My problem is always Tissot Superpole because with the Superpole tyre, the bike is different. The bike doesn’t turn and it goes out wide in the corners. This is always the problem: last year we have the problem; this year we have the problem. There has been no change.

“With the race tyre, my times are good because the bike set-up is good, but with the Superpole tyre, they are very bad. I always start around 10^th, 11^th or 12^th and finish near the front.”

There is no doubt that two podiums have fired up the Turkish Puccetti Racing team rider, who is currently just seven points behind former WorldSBK runner-up, Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK). But what does Toprak think lies ahead of him in the remainder of 2019?

Now, I see our potential. I want more podiums and last season at Donington Park, we were very strong. Also, at the Portimao test but then, I wait all season and the races are very bad! This season, we are not waiting. Donington Park will be very good for us; I feel that maybe we can have a first win.”

So, after a first podium of his career at Prosecco DOC UK Round last year, can Toprak deliver a first career win a year later?

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