Donington Park WorldSBK: Toprak: Ducati ‘unbelievable’ - Japanese bikes must improve, like in MotoGP
Razgatlioglu had high hopes of halting the Spani♊ard’s run at a circuit where he took a perfect triple last season, but☂ found it impossible to contain the reigning champion.
While Razgatlioglu took the lead from Jonathan Rea on lap 6ꦯ, the Yamaha rider was helpless to fight back when Bautista blasted pa♉st along the back straight on lap 9 of 23.
The Turkish star was strong in several areas of♉ the circuit, notably the Melbourne Hairpin, but simply couldn’t get close enough to attack the red machine due to its tꦏraction out of the Fogarty Esses.
Razgatlioglu went on to finish in second place by a marg♔in of 3.7s.
“The beginning [of the race] was good, I was enjoying it,” Razgatlioglu said. “But after Alvaro had a good pace. I tried to catch him but it was impossible because, all the short straights he had an unbelievable acceleration. His electronics are working good and his bike’s power is unbe💝lievable.
“Especially I am very strong in Corner 11 [Melbourne Hairpin]. But after the chicane, he puts the gears and his bike has unbelꦅievable acceleration. It’s no﷽t possible for me to pass him again because the [acceleration] gap is not normal.
“Last year his bike was not f𒅌ast like this, especially after the chicane. Now I'm almost shocked because after the chicane his bike is unbelievable.
“I was still fighting for a good position, but in general I'm not happy. Because I remember always last year and the three wins here. I hope tomorrow we can improve some chattering and the rear grip, so we can be fighting for the win agaiꦰn.”
Razgatlioglu: The Japanese brands need to improve, like in MotoGP
Razgatlioglu, moving to BMW next seaꦡson, also sent a warning to Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda about the level of their machinery – which he said mimics the problemsꦰ Honda and Yamaha are facing against the European machines in MotoGP.
“Alvaro is a really fast rider. It’s not just his bike. But Ducati this year has also made a ꦆbig improvement. Their bike is fast, good at stopping and turning. Everything is good," he said.
“OK, we are trying. But now the Ducati’s level is💃 very high and the Japanese brands 🅰are not closing the gap. So it’s not in balance and I don't know for the future.
“But it’s reallꦇy important that all the Japanese brands need to improve their bikes. This is not just a problem here🍒, but also in MotoGP.”
Donington𝔍 Park was a pivotal moment in Bautista and Ducati’s 201𒅌9 title collapse.
But having now broken his Donington jinx to clai💧m a 15th win from 16 races, extending his title lead over Razgatlioglu to 91 points, the Turkish star admits time is running out ♌to stop the Spaniard.
“My opinion is that now he is winning here and if he's winning again tomorrow, esp🐟ecially if he is winning again in Imola, t❀hen I think he’s an easy world champion.”
While Rea completed the Saturday podi🌞um, the next best Ducati was Danilo Petrucci, in fourth.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has sཧeen Valen🌳tino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
