Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu was the man of the moment in the Algarve on Saturday with a WorldSBK race one win that had several elements. Hard passes, incredible braking performance, and an ability to find pace on the final two laps to keep Scott Redding in second place when it looked like it may be the Ducati rider’s day, not the Yamaha leader’s.

Portimao is a track he likes, but it looked like it was a track he is about to own, just like a few others this year. Last year it was Rea who pulled out the performances in Portimao, but as of Raceday One, it was Toprak - now 45 points ahead of Rea.

“Normally I like this track, always, but with SC0 tyre not easy.” Razgatlioglu said. “From also last year. I start very good but after, Johnny goes alone. My big problem also (last time) last corner,  today became big problem for me last corner. Also Turn 10. But I hope tomorrow we will improve.

“I think tomorrow we will be coming a little bit more strong. Also, I think Jonny is okay. I don't know. I don’t see him after. I hope he is OK. I think it’s not a big crash. I see just low side. But I’m not happy for him, because this is a race, I don’t want the riders crash. For the championship for me, much better he has a crash, but I’m not happy for this. I am always like it when we battle in the race. I win, much better for me. Tomorrow I think it’s coming more struggle and that we will see and we are improving my bike in two corners. I think we are also struggling.”

From the outside perspective it was suggested to Razgatlioglu that he was almost unbeatable now. Toprak had a different view, even if he won again.

“Outside yes, but inside, on some corners, no. I am always on the limit because also I feel too much front sliding in the right corners. Corner three and corner 10, and corner 14. I’m feeling too much sliding. I understand I’m on the limit, but I’m waiting two laps, the last two laps, and I’m pushing my best. All the corners I try my best, because I know which corners I am slow. In the race I see because Johnny passed me in corner 10. I’m very slow, because the rear was sliding too much. It’s not possible pushing front. Last two laps, I ride a little bit better in this corner, and I know Scott is very strong.”

Redding just could not find the mix of pace and line to overcome the R1 rider, but like most people he was a little surprised that Razgatlioglu continued to push. Razgatlioglu gave his usual answer, even at this late stage of the season, as to why he did not settle for a very safe second but kept going for a win.

“Why? Because I’m not looking from the championship side. I’m just focused the race. I’m not stupid, but I try win.”

After all the controversy about Pirelli dropping the SCX rear tyre for the long races at Portimao, after safety concerns about it lasting all 20 race laps, Razgatlioglu went ahead and won the long racer on an SC0 anyway, not the unavailable SCX his team wanted. He said it worked well. “Yeah, I’m feeling sliding but also lap time not bad. On the last lap I saw a 1’42.0.

There were no problems with the tyre evident to Razgatlioglu.

“On the right side in the last corner too much spinning. The Ducati is very fast on the straight, because I see also Scott sliding, but after there was grip, the Ducati has very good acceleration. Also the straight is good. I watched him. Which corners he was fast. Which corners he was slow. I saw, and after I pass him. I waited for just the last two. First I tried to go, but I understand he is also coming. I said, okay. I’m waiting. I keep the tyre for the last two laps. I tried a little bit different plan, but we won.”

But if Razgatlioglu had the SCX (the much talked of 557) tyre, like most recent rounds would normally have, did Toprak think he could make an even greater performance? It is allowed to be used in the Sprint race on Sunday morning, and in practice, but the riders were told not to put more than 13 laps on it.

“Today I tried it, this morning, 557. It’s very good. I think similar races, but little bit better. I think 557 no problem this track. But the Pirelli for safety said not long race, just short race. We said OK. I see also Jonny very happy after this. I see that he wrote, “X tyre go to holiday.” But I smile like this. I know he’s very fast this track, but also I like this track. Just my big problem is the SC0 tyre, but also now a little bit better. This was not easy race also for me, but tomorrow I try again.”

Razgatlioglu was a close eye-witness to Rea’s crash.

“I see his crash, with braking,” said Razgatlioglu. “Last corner, he goes down. Before a little bit bumpy. He always enter with brake. Also, I know yesterday in the race simulation, every lap I’m feeling front sliding but he is pushing a little bit more, maybe. He is feeling too much confident in the front.”

After the race Toprak had set up a stunt where he would get off the bike, get a broom  from his trackside Turkish fans, and proceed to clean the green track limits area - a clear joke about Rea’s team ‘pinging’ him to Race Direction at Magny Cours in a now infamous incident.

Toprak said, “Yeah, clean green because you remember Magny Cours, Kawasaki said advantage the green line. I now clean and after I check how was grip, because maybe next race I need green line there…”