Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has ticked off several milestones this season in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, but there’s one still missing: a wet race win. The #54 has come close before but is yet to take the chequered flag in P1 in the rain, but with the possibility of more rain falling on Saturday, it seems ‘El Turco’ would like to add this milestone to the ones he’s already achieved this season.

NOT MUCH RUNNING ON FRIDAY: “We started very strongly…”

Running was limited in both FP1 and FP2, with different conditions in both. In a wet FP1, his longest stint was three laps in the wet conditions although he was very consistent – he set a 1’53.249s on his first lap, before setting a 1’52.344s and then a 1’52.948s. That was his only stint in the rain-affected session. In FP2, which started dry before the rain fell, he once again only did limited running. His only meaningful stint – which was on the SC0 tyre in dry conditions – was five laps. His best time was a 1’37.355s as he built into the session, with three of the four representative times in the 1’37s bracket.

Reviewing his Friday, the 2021 Champion said: “I started very strongly. It’s the first time in a while since I’ve ridden the BMW in wet conditions. We started very strongly, but we did just three or four laps maximum and then I came back to the box. The team were a bit worried because we’re fighting for the world title! The feeling is good because it looks like we’re ready to race in wet conditions. FP2 for me is very good because it’s the first time I’ve ridden the BMW in dry conditions here. The feeling was good, but I needed more laps to adapt more. Generally, the bike is working well but there’s some problems I need to adapt more. The last time I rode here was with Yamaha. In the dry conditions, I had a good feeling and did a good lap time with the SC0 tyre. Then I came back to the box for a new SCX tyre, but it started to rain so I didn’t try it.”

LOTS OF VARIABLES ON A PIVOTAL WEEKEND: “I’m not feeling pressure…”

In Pirelli’s tyre allocation, they revealed two SCX compounds – one in standard and one in development form – while a development rain tyre was added due to the forecast on Friday and Saturday. This added several variables to the equation for WorldSBK’s visit to Estoril, and Razgatlioglu was asked how he’d manage those, coupled with any pressure for a potentially title-deciding weekend.

Razgatlioglu said: “I’m not feeling pressure. I’m just enjoying the bike. Tomorrow, it looks like there could be some strange weather. It looks like it might rain tomorrow morning and then, in the afternoon, no more rain. I’m ready for both conditions. It’s a very important race weekend for me because I need really good points here. I’m focused on winning the race. If I see some risk in the race, maybe I’ll say second position is good. I like this circuit. Today is a good day for me. I have a better feeling and, physically, I’m feeling better than Aragon.”

THE TARGET: a wet race win

Razgatlioglu is yet to take victory in a wet race but he outlined this as a target after showing good pace in his few laps in the wet. He said: “I almost won in 2021 in Barcelona, but the bike had a problem. We will see tomorrow. If it rains tomorrow, I’ll try to do my best and try to win in wet conditions. This is nice because this year, we did many new things, so why not also win a race in wet conditions?”

SYKES’ VIEW: “It’s BMW and Toprak’s year, and I think that’s the way it’s meant to be…”

2013 Champion Tom Sykes was at the Estoril Round on Friday, and he spoke during Free Practice 2 about BMW’s form, the possibility of the #54 becoming BMW’s first Riders’ Champion and how the pieces of the puzzle fell together. Sykes, who was a BMW rider between 2019 and 2022, and for a short stint in 2023, said: “It’s been one of those years that’s difficult to judge, strange to see top riders crashing out and getting injured, it's been a turbulent season, Toprak is riding really well and has a good margin, the bike is well developed, timing is everything, his timing to go to BMW was fantastic. They've got a strong engine, improved electronics, chassis etc. They've put the package together at the right time for Toprak's arrival. Things fell into place; it was his year to be had. Its BMW and Toprak's year and I think that's the way is meant to be.”

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