Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu dominated the opening race at Magny-Cours to head into Sunday as WorldSBK Championship leader.
The extravagant stoppie, right across the finish line as he finished over four-seconds up on Jonathan Rea, said all you needed to know about how Razgatlioglu felt about winning a race at his favourite circuit. And now, just as good as any other circuit for his official Yamaha too.
Stuck in fight for a short time, Razgatlioglu went into the lead on lap four and was never headed.
Rea looked like he may attack again but whenever he did he ran wide or lost time in other places. Razgatlioglu seemed to lose time nowhere, and after Rea realised he was not catching him, Razgatlioglu had the job in the bag.
“Just the first laps, Johnny had a little bit of a go and Alex was also coming,” Razgatlioglu said of race one. “Then after, I caught Jonathan, but I push too much because after some laps the tyre did a big drop. But no problem, because I try also consistent lap times. A good race for me.”
And the big stoppie right across the finish line Toprak, how long was that in the making?
“Everything was OK!” he replied. “Normally, I have in mind this year stop to do a stoppie at the chequered flag. I was waiting for this track because the finish line is very close to the final turn. I knew I just needed four-seconds, five-seconds for this. I saw four-seconds on my board and I tried. I’m very happy for this!”
Razgatlioglu was aware that he had had done something special to beat Rea by such a margin, at a track Rea won Superpole at that morning, and has won at many times in the past.
“In the first laps I said, ‘I think this race will be not easy.’ After some more laps, I rode a little bit more relaxed and I saw the gap open. Also, I focused on my lap time and a consistent lap time. After I saw three-seconds then four-seconds, I said, “OK. Now I need a stoppie to finish line.
“It was a very good race for me. Normally I like this track. 2019 I’m very fast also. I know tomorrow will be not easy, but I will try. Short race I also think is not easy because Johnny will be very fast, but the second long race… maybe, because he’s coming tomorrow strong, I know. I know him!”
Razgatlioglu’s win and Rea’s second left the fallen Scott Redding well down the order. Razgatlioglu, even just after the podium ceremony in France, realised what had happened and even where.
“Yeah, I saw it on television,” he explained of his British rival’s fall. “Corner five exit. First I’m surprised in qualifying. Not good lap time (for him). Also he started at the back. After, I saw him crash. But this season very strange because one race week, everything changing. I think not for him.”
Yamaha has obviously made great strides in 2021, in lots of small ways that can make a big difference in the end, and Razgatlioglu says that is still ongoing.
“Every race we improve, but sometimes for me not easy,” he said. “On Friday morning, I’m not lapping easily because last time I ride here in the dry was on a Kawasaki and it had different gearing, and also the Yamaha different gearing. But second session, I ride much better because I adapt to my bike. Also, I know now my bike and the team is learning my style. Now we are working together very well. For tomorrow, I need a little bit more because Johnny coming very strong. He’s very fast.”
Razgatlioglu rode the Kawasaki in his first WorldSBK seasons, so does that give him an insight into how Rea can be fast and where maybe not so fast?
“The Kawasaki is very good also here but problem, today we are, I think, more fast. Lap times also. Not like 2019. I remember short race 2019 I see my best lap time 1’37.0, but also this race 1’36.9. I think faster this year. It’s better grip from the track also.”
