Toprak Razgatlioglu’s off-season with his Pata Yamaha squad was interrupted by a positive Covid test, sending him into 15-day hotel isolation in Spain, followed by a return home to Turkey during Ramadan.
For a professional athlete these are two very different challenges to pre-season preparations, but he came back to work for two days at Aragon, going third fastest and with just the factory KRT duo - albeit clearly - ahead of his best time.
Razgatlioglu has had a tough month since leaving the Catalunya tests early in April, but told bikesportnews.com, “After one month, I’m really happy because I missed my rivals and I missed my team. Two days at Motorland also was very positive because I need testing in Aragon. Last year I was not really fast, and this year I’m really strong because we tried some new parts. Also, we tried a good setup for the race.”
Super-fast lap times were not high on Toprak’s Aragon agenda, not in testing anyway, it he said. “We work for just race setup. With the race tyres we did a good lap time, also yesterday. I tried a Q tyre but the lap time was not coming. But, I am happy because with the race tyres we made a very good lap time, and also SC0 and SCX tire.
"Now, I am happy after one month away. I think we are ready. Also my body is feeling very good because after one month it not possible to get in good training. In Turkey, during Ramadan, it’s not possible eat or drink (in the daytime). But on day one in the test I did 93 laps and today 84 laps. My feeling is very good. I am ready for the championship.”
Having struggled at Motorland in the past Toprak feels this test was a confidence-booster, but what his final results will be are still unsure as he enters year two as a Yamaha works rider. “I am happy because we checked last year’s laps and the temperature was the same and very hot. But I’m feeling we are ready.
"Also this season I’m strong. I don't know if in the race I can score a podium. I don't know because I say this very early, because in a world championship all riders are very fast. Also this season, very fast riders. My plan is to start in a good position.
I will try fighting for podium, but we will see because first race at Aragon. We will see. Last year I lost in Aragon. This year I hope not to lose and I keep fighting.”
Yamaha had their new look and more aerodynamic front fairing for Razgatlioglu at Motorland, a circuit that features a gigantic back straight. He tried it, liked it, but may swap between options in 2021. “This was also in the team plan, used at the Aragon track because back straight is very long. I think the feedback is good because if you check the speed, it’s not bad. I like it, but maybe at a slow corners track, maybe Donington and maybe Misano, maybe I will try a small fairing. I don't know, but now I like it at this track.”
Razgatlioglu’s positive test saw him isolated in a hotel, but it appears he was an asymptomatic sufferer. “I was not feeling sick but I saw that COVID tested positive, but just this,” he stated. “Maybe if I don’t see the test positive, I don’t understand. Also just 15 days I stayed in a very small room in Barcelona. I spoke with the doctor and the he said ‘no training’ because it’s very bad for COVID. Maybe I'm also positive in Turkey, better for me because if I stayed in my home and I have my computer. Better in my home. But 15 days, at the finish it felt like two months.”
A lot of Turkish riders are now proving themselves, with varying levels of success. With Formula One racing going back to Istanbul in 2021, does local boy Toprak see any chance of getting there on a Superbike. Or of the MotoGP paddock returning?
“I don't know, because it is incredible money,” he said. “Maybe after years, why not? Kenan won one year. Now also there is the COVID situation. Formula 1 coming, but problem one track also is canceled, Canada maybe. One day I hope WorldSBK is coming back, maybe - because I’m riding Superbike, not MotoGP. First Superbike, after MotoGP. No problem.”
