Toprak Razgatlioglu was once again in the leading fight in WorldSBK race one at Misano, and understood the significance of having Jonathan Rea behind him for the championship battle to come.
Second was the best he could get but he is now getting desperate for that first win of 2021. “I am very happy because I take also good points for the championship, but I try also follow Johnny and Rinaldi but not possible today - the rear had too much sliding. But strange because yesterday we tried this tyre, also race simulation very good. Also I think more potential for the good that time, but today was not like yesterday.”`
The heat, well over 50 degrees C on the track surface at times, played havoc with some riders’s plans, and Razgatlioglu may have been one of them.
“I think same about the temperature, but maybe also the bike setup. I don't know. Also, we took good points for the championship. Tomorrow also I try maybe different setup, different tyre maybe for the best result, because Rinaldi is very strong at this track. Tomorrow we try fighting for a win again, but we will see because not easy. Now I come step by step. Just I need to win because I miss all the races second, third, second, third, but now I need a win. We are fighting always because I try my best. Today in second position, we are happy. We don’t crash and we took good points.”
Razgatlioglu was not sure if he was surprised that it was Rinaldi that won and not Rea, and that Rea nearly fell. But the early action, fights that saw Razgatlioglu cut off from the leading two, stopped the Turkish riders’ winning ambitions at the 4.226km long Misano.
“I tried to follow Rinaldi, because Rinaldi is also very fast, but I’m not possible coming close to Rinaldi and Johnny. Maybe I tried also to follow Johnny, but not possible because I was fighting with Redding. After I passed him, I rode good but not enough. But to stay in second position is good. Tomorrow also I try maybe follow Rinaldi. Maybe we try different setup, feeling good. Maybe we are fighting for a win!”
