The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returns to action at the TT Circuit Assen for the Pirelli Dutch Round and it gave Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) the chance to discuss his recent two-day MotoGP™ test at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto in detail with the media. The 2021 World Champion reviewed his test on the Yamaha M1 machine in Spain, his second test on the Yamaha MotoGP™ machine after the first was impacted by wet weather at MotorLand Aragon last season.

Razgatlioglu claimed the 2021 WorldSBK title in style after a season-long fight with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and the test at Aragon was part of a reward for winning the Championship. Wet weather interrupted his running at Aragon but Razgatlioglu was able to get onboard the M1 machine at Jerez recently and, with good weather, he was able to complete a full two days of running in Spain.

Reflecting on the test, and also outlining how he had to adapt to the Yamaha M1, Razgatlioglu said: “The MotoGP™ test was an enjoyable two days. Last year, I rode just 20 laps because the weather wasn’t nice, and it started to rain. This year, I’m very lucky. At Jerez, it was very hot, and the track temperature was around 48, 50 degrees. I enjoyed both days with the MotoGP™ bike. Normally all young riders have a dream to ride in MotoGP™. I did and I’m very happy.

“It’s a completely different bike compared to the Superbike. The Superbike is a softer bike, the MotoGP™ a harder one. The tyres are completely different and also the riding style is completely different. You ride a Superbike more stop-and-go and, for MotoGP™, you need to keep the speed through the corner. I tried to adapt to this. The seat position is a big difference and I’m feeling very high. I enjoyed the Superbike more because I see more inside the bike; MotoGP™ is completely different.”

Razgatlioglu, whose best lap time was set on the second morning of the test, also went into specifics about how his riding style would need to change between his WorldSBK Yamaha R1 and the MotoGP™ Yamaha M1 machines due to their different characteristics. Razgatlioglu explained how the cornering styles between the two is different. He said: “I enjoyed the braking, but the problem was the first bike was not easy to stop. The Superbike and MotoGP™ bikes are different but the big difference is the style because the MotoGP™ style is completely different. You need to keep the speed through the corner more, not try to stop like the Superbike. On Day 2, I’m enjoying more especially the braking. But the problem is, after braking, it’s not easy for me to enter the corners because the seat position is very high. It’s not easy to enter the corners because I’m not feeling the limit on the front. The braking, I started really hard. This is just testing, and we will see in the future. For me, what’s most important is this year. I try to win again.”

The test was attended by Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager, who also gave his thoughts on the test from Yamaha’s perspective. Dosoli stated that they were two goals for the test and that were both were met from both Razgatlioglu and Yamaha and Dosoli also praised the job Razgatlioglu did at Jerez on the M1 machine as he adapted from the WorldSBK machine to the MotoGP™ bike.

Dosoli said: “From my point of view, it was a very positive test. We had a couple of targets in mind. One, from the rider point of view, to discover the MotoGP™ bike. He had the chance to ride for two days at Jerez in good weather conditions. The second objective was more from our side. Yamaha are probably the manufacturer that’s invested the most in riders. We have a good platform in WorldSBK and MotoGP™. We really wanted to see what is the level of a rider, the most talented riders, who recently won the World Championship, to understand how long it takes to adapt to the MotoGP™ machine. I’m glad to say that both targets have been achieved. It has been a positive test. Toprak understands what the MotoGP™ bike needs in terms of riding style. There’s a big difference from the production-based machine; a different approach to corners and different tyres. Toprak understood this and tried to modify his riding style. He has already achieved some results in terms of feedback but there’s more work to be done.”

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