Toprak Razgatlioglu entered ROKiT BMW this year to start a new chapter in his World Superbike career. The manufacturer’s investment is already proving to be justified, with the Turkish rider achieving the first victories in several years as early as the second round of the season. Loris Baz is paying attention and is truly impressed by the Turkish rider.
In an interview with the site paddock-gp.com, the rider who will compete in MotoAmerica this year stated: ‘For me, Toprak is one of those motorcycle geniuses like [Marc] Márquez can be or like [Casey] Stoner was. These are guys who have something extra, it’s visible. I always said that I would like to see Toprak in MotoGP, because he is someone who has an ability, a feeling for the front wheel and brakes, that I have rarely seen. So as soon as I knew he was coming, I knew he was going to perform‘.
In addition to the abilities of the Turkish rider, Baz witnessed changes in BMW itself over the past year: ‘There were changes made halfway through the season at BMW last year, very important in the organization, in the way of developing with this test team and everything. These are things we had been asking for for some time and they were done last year. So, halfway through last season, and that’s why I wanted to stay here, because I felt there was a new momentum, new things. I think it works, in fact, Toprak proved it‘.
And, at this moment, the Frenchman no longer rules out the possibility of winning the title in 2024: ‘I said that I didn’t believe in the title in the first year, but now, let’s see: I may have changed my mind, because it’s so exceptional. What he did in Barcelona, I rarely see that, and he is strong. I know the flaws of the bike, and not everything can be changed because it’s not a new bike that was approved, and the way he rides truly erases the flaws that [the bike] has‘.
