Toprak Razgatlioglu: Nicolo Bulega ‘immediately fast, happy to fight more riders’

Toprak Razgatlioglu says the 2024 WorldSBK season could see him𝓡 fighting against more riders, following the Portimao test.

Toprak Razgatlioglu, Jerez WorldSBK test, 25 January
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Jerez WorldSBK test, 25 January

Like in Jerez, several WorldSBK riders impr💛essed including rookie Nicolo Bulega who was the star of Pre-season testing.

The🧸 Italian topped three out of the four days𒀰, however, it was Toprak Razgatlioglu who took hom the bragging rights at Portimao. 

Following his switch from Yamaha to BMW, Razgatlioglu has wasted no time in adapting to the M 1000 RR and lo💮oks ready to contend for big results from roun𒁏d one.

But with Phillip Isᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚland traditionally very hard on tyres, making the right choices could make or break Razgatliolu and BMW’s weekend.

Speaking about the ope⛦ning round, Razgatlioglu admits getting tyre ▨choices right will be important.

“We will see when we’re there,”🌌 Razgatlioglu told WorldSBK.com. “Everyone says it is a new surface so we will see what the grip is like and how the bike is working.

“It’s a completely different track and I don’t know which tyres we will use. Normally we would use SC1 but maybe 🍬with the new surface we will use the SC0, I 🗹don’t know.

“The hard tyre 𝄹is completely different and so is the g🤪rip. It’s not possible to say before the test.”

While tyres🅠 will play a vital role, so will the ꦑlevel of performances from Razgatlioglu’s rivals.

Two riders expected to be strong are Bulega and Jonathan Rea, with the latter a🥀lso adapting well to life at Yamaha.

“First, I would say Jonny has done more 𒅌testing than me so it’s normal for him to adapt a bit more before me,” began Razgatlioglu wh☂en discussing his rivals. “But we are quick to adapt and are getting stronger.

“Nicolo, he is a Supersp🌄ort world champion and it seems like he is riding a similar bike but wi♒th more power. But he is really fast.

“I’m very 🌸happy for him because he is v🧸ery young but learning and immediately fast.

“I’m happy for thꦫis because in the season we can be fighting against more riders. Generally, I’m happy for Johnny and Nicolo.”

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