SBK, from Yamaha to BMW: will Razgatlioglu enjoy the same power?

With the decision now made, is there anyone who could change his mind at this point? No. Toprak Razgatlioglu – advised by Kenan Sofuoglu – will finish the SBK season with Yamaha before turning his attention to BMW and a new page in his career. Although there are still eight rounds to go, with the Misano weekend just around the corner, we ask ourselves whether the Turk will be able to enjoy the same freedom he is afforded today by the blue team?

Razgatlioglu can do almost anything in SBK

Toprak behaves like a rider from another era in SBK, doing things we rarely see anymore. When the day’s track action aboard the R1 is complete, the Alanya native often heads to the team Puccetti hospitality, which is of course Kawasaki branded. He does so for two valid reasons, in that his fellow countryman Can Oncu competes with the Ninja and he can meet with Kenan Sofuoglu. Bahattin Sofuoglu does likewise, a race winner with MV Agusta.

The third reason is Manuel Puccetti himself. The team manager is one of Razga’s good friends, in the true sense of the work. Where the rider goes, the experienced Italian goes too (when time allows). And this is a wonderful thing, a relationship based on mutual respect, but a stark contrast to what we see elsewhere.

Try to imagine if, in his Lenovo Ducati colours, the MotoGP number 1 were to pop into the Monster Energy Yamaha garage, perhaps to support Franco Morbidelli, a rival on track but a VR46 team-mate too. No, Pecco Bagnaia wouldn’t do that, someone would say something. And yet, in the production-derived paddock, the Turk almost spends more time in the Akashi-branded space than in his Iwata corner.

Razgatlioglu, BMW isn’t Yamaha. For now

We hope that, during the negotiation phase, the German staff have considered the rider’s needs, as he’ll want to continue spending time with his Turkish friends. And Manuel Puccetti, as we’ve already said. But will he be allowed to do so?

We can’t know for sure but, considering past and present, it would be advisable to appease him. Do you think Razgatlioglu will ride freely and happily if he’s curbed? He’d give it his all in the saddle as he always does, but his spirit would be suffocated. And this would lead to problems.

The SMR team is made up of Brits and Germans. Is this pairing working? No, and that’s why they’ve hired the Turk. Will the Turk work aboard the complicated M1000 RR? Time will tell, but the question now, with 2023 in full swing, is: do they know that number 54 performs at his best only if he’s free to do as he likes? Do they know that, while his talent might allow him to ride around prospective technical limitations, environmental limitations could condition him?

Will Toprak never go to MotoGP? The conditions are not right

Frankly speaking, we believe little of the stories regarding Razga’s possible move to MotoGP. The opinion of Monster Energy Yamaha manager and former rider Maio Meregalli is worth its weight, but everything else is froth.

Do you really think the Turk would not suit the characteristics of the prototypes? Do you really think he would struggle that much to ride any reigning class model to the limit? Would his braking be too violent, causing him to incorrectly set up the corners?! Even after three or four dedicated tests?

Aware that we have no tools with which to demonstrate this, we maintain that Razga would have been quick in MotoGP, quick enough to worry the most experienced riders. To his detriment, we have the situation outlined above, while in the other paddock he holds no power and has no friends or people in whom he trusts, with the exception of Deniz Oncu. Good, but not enough.