Toprak Razgatlioglu has gone into more detail about his first outing on the ROKiT BMW M 1000 RR, warning WorldSBK rivals that the bike is ‘not far off’ after completing a shakedown test of his new machine at Portimao.
A month on from the conclusion of the 2023 WorldSBK Championship season, Razgatlioglu was in Portugal to get acquainted with the BMW M 1000 RR he will race in 2024 and 2025 for the first time.
With two test outings planned this week - one at Portimao, the other in Jerez - though Razgatlioglu’s maiden laps on the bike were hampered by poor weather, he came away encouraged from his first touch on the German machine.
Indeed, with the BMW packing more power than the Yamaha R1 he has just vacated, Razgatlioglu admits he was particularly impressed by the M 1000 RR’s straight-line speed, while he gave his thumbs up to its engine braking too as he looks dial his signature hard, late-braking style of riding into the set-up
“In general, I am really happy because it has been a very positive test,” the 2021 WorldSBK Champion said. “My feeling for the BMW M 1000 RR is very good.
“Now I understand the bike and we did also very good lap times regarding the track conditions which were not the best so I did not push towards a fast lap time and we did not use the softer tyre. I am enjoying it even if I could not do so many laps.
“We are learning because this bike is completely different for me but I now start to adapt to it. Especially on Monday I had a much better feeling for the front than before. And the power and the engine brake are unbelievable and the bike is very fast on the straight.
“I am very positive, we just need to do more laps. Thank you to all the guys, they gave me are warm welcome and everybody tries to improve, which we immediately did. We will see, I need more time.
“If we have good track conditions, I think that I can ride a good lap time because especially the front feeling when I enter the corner is now much better.
“The traction is working very well and I have more power. In general, I am very happy and after the first laps I would say that we are not far. We are coming.”
