Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu was once again in a good position when a technical issue raised its head in Sunday’s WorldSBK clash.

His front mudguard appeared to break and lock up his front tyre, with Razgatlioglu crashing at high speed at Portimao’s final corner.

As Toprak said, so simply, “We crashed. We are fighting again for a win. Also this lap I come very close to Johnny. Normally my plan is straight pass. But, I’m surprised because strange front sliding. After I’m watching the video, also show the fender is broken. Tyre sliding. But, bad luck for me. Always this year. We are taking the gap in the championship, and after come back again.

“Always like this. I’m not really angry because I say just bad luck. This is normally broken in the straight because we are 310 kilometers speed. Just entering the last corner fender broken. This is very bad luck. But, okay. We are focusing again next race. We are fighting again next race.”

It was not Razgatlioglu’s only tech issue in the race. “Also, in the race, the wheelie control not working because up, down. The bike has too much wheelie. I close the gas. Sometimes Jonny very fast, corner 11 down. He’s a little bit faster because I close the gas every lap. The wheelie control was not working, maybe a problem in the broken fender.”

Razgatlioglu had a sarcastic answer to Jonathan Rea’s assertion that he would start riding tougher against Razgatlioglu.

“Also Johnny start talking? This is good,” said Toprak. “Because also he is touching in Navarra. I’m not talking. But, he start talking. This is good because he is very hungry for the championship. I don’t like it, talking like this, because my style is this and never changing. Every race weekend I’m fighting like this. I’m not scared. Maybe he is. Maybe Scott is scared. Maybe Johnny is scared. For me, no problem.

“My style is this. I ride always like this. We are training always like this, but in the race sometimes touching. This is normal. Also, he is not crashing. I think better not talking. I say again – my style is this. I ride always like this.”

When asked about the burnout Rea did on the section of green track limits asphalt that Razgatlioglu got a broom out and cleaned earlier at Portimao, Razgatlioglu said, “This is good. I need again to clean. Next race I clean again. I’m not seeing. I need to clean again.”
The needle is not just creeping into WorldSBK in 2021 it is galloping in.

Toprak was sure he could stay with Rea if he had not had his technical issue, stating. “I start the last 10 laps, but maybe I win. Maybe I’m second position. I don’t know. But, I just try again for win. Also, I feel in my limit in the race. Also especially last corner, I’m not enter fast, because also very big wind. I try all laps enter inside, but bad luck. But the fender is broken. I crash. Also in the race I see my limit and also I see Jonny’s limit. I’m fighting, because I understand Scott is not coming. We are alone. But, finish like this. It’s okay. Always enough. We go and come back again.”