Maybe Jonathan Rea would have won the Sunday WorldSBK Superpole race at San Juan but for a false neutral while leading, but that honour went to Toprak Razgatlioglou, a Saturday binner and Sunday winner.

His pure determination to win is the building block all his other unique championship talents are layered on, and he needed all of it to beat double race winner Alvaro Bautista just once.

It was nothing less than a career cathartic as he held of Bautista so soon after making his first personal mistake in ages.
 
“Yesterday the big mistake for me,” said Toprak on Sunday at a very hot San Juan. “I need also to come back again strong. The Superpole race for me was unbelievable because I tried my best. I need to win again. I’m really happy for this. Race two also I need to keep fighting for the good position.

"I know Alvaro was very strong in the race, but I tried my best again. I was waiting a little bit for Alvaro’s tyre to drop, but this is not possible because he’s not eating the tyre, just he’s really fast in the straight. 03, 04. But anyway, keep fighting again. We take good points for the championship. Always fighting for the win. Today again I was fighting for the win, but finished the race in P2. But, anyway, today we are strong.”

When asked why Bautista’s bike does not eat the tyres so much, Toprak said, “Because he is less kilos and also has very big advantage in the straight. He doesn’t need the corner pushing a lot, in my opinion.”

Razgatlioglu’s rebuild of his motivation from the most down he seemed after a race on Saturday was not all done by him. “The team always believes in me,” said Razgatlioglu. “Last night my motivation was really down, but also thanks to the team because they were really helping for my motivation.

Also improved the bike for Sunday, today in the race. I am very happy for this. I never see after I crash team talking strong (against me). They just said, ‘we know you.’ The team believes in me. This was very good for me because it was not easy for me, and after two years it is the first time I make a mistake. But the team really helping for my motivation. I think also maybe Portimao in 2020 I crashed” remembers Razgatlioglu. “After Portimao, I didn’t crash.”

Everybody else at the end of Sunday was thinking and talking about the championship prospects, but as eve, it was not what Razgatlioglu ws thinking about.

“No, I’m not looking championship,” he said. “I say we take good work for championship. I just say this, but normally I’m just fighting for the win. I’m not really happy because I don’t win (race two). I was in second position. But, just I’m a little bit happy. I keep fighting.

"This is good motivation for me. For Mandalika, I think we will race strong. Ducati has a big advantage because long straight, but we will see. Also Alvaro and Johnny very strong in this track. I’m ready to fight again.”