In racing there is maybe sometimes too much fight in a rider. But it is a maybe? For Scott Redding there was too much fight in Toprak Razgatlioglu during WorldSBK race one at Most.

For Razgatlioglu’s chances of keeping championship leader Alvaro Bautista behind him and the Pata Yamaha in Saturday’s clash, maybe he should not have fought so hard with KRT’s Jonathan Rea out front, which seemed to bring the Ducati rider closer to them than if they were just following-the fastest out front.

The final result was second place for Razgaltioglu - but behind Bautista. His early fight with Rea was a small mystery to both riders, of which Toprak said, “I don’t understand. Normally we go very good. He follows me. He starts to pass me. I don’t understand why. After it started to rain, I follow just the rider. After, I was feeling a big problem. The bike was not acceleration in corner exit. Not just especially last corner, but I’m feeling a big problem in the last corner. After also the rear tyre started to drop.

“I’m fighting a good position because Alvaro a very good pace and he rides alone, easy. But I’m fighting Jonny, and after Scott. Anyway, second position, not bad. For the rain, I did not take risks. I just followed the rider in front.”

When it came to passing Redding again, who had come through from seventh, Razgatlioglu said, “After I followed Scott, I saw he has sector two not really strong, but sector three and four he is very strong. Also, the bike has very good acceleration. In the straight is very fast. I say, ‘okay, sector two I need to pass him because the last sector it’s not possible because he is very strong’. I try. I’m feeling like last year. But we almost crash because the rear sliding. We go wide. But, we did not crash. We finished on the podium.”

When it was explained to Toprak that Redding was not at all happy with him, Toprak said, “No, not like last year, but I pass him, but also I almost crash. I need to try and pick up. I see him. We go together wide. I say just sorry for this, because this is the race, but I’m just talking with him. We are friends.”

Redding had earlier said that Toprak’s pass was the most dangerous point of all the calendar for an overtake, because of where the runoff are and not so much gravel. So why did Razgatlioglu pass there?

“Where is the barrier? I’m not thinking this. I’m focused just I need to pass this corner. I say this. Also, coming the limit. I try.”