Yamaha WorldSBK boss Andrea Dosoli has kept star rider Toprak Razgatlioglu in his fold for two more years and out of the clutches of MotoGP counterpart Lin Jarvis.

In a chat with bikesportnews.com ahead of the Assen round, Dosoli reveals how he did it and what's next for the tuning fork...

Q: You got Toprak on the books for two more years. How and why?
A: “Honestly, we are really, really glad that we could achieve the extension of the agreement earlier than expected,” said Dosoli. “Honestly, it was the result of our growing relationship with Toprak. We started one year and a half ago together. We start to know each other. So we understood what he needs. We understood how to get the best from the R1. This year it looks like the performance is there. We have a good bike for his requirement. So far it’s been the best season since when we came back. So, it was logic for both sides. I’m really happy that we could achieve the renewal before Donington, then the mind can be clear, focus on the championship.”

Q: So, looking at next year some more, around about this time is when people speak about new riders. Obviously this year we are still only three to four rounds in. How has this changed the mentality? It makes you want the same people quicker, or do you think if maybe we can wait longer to see how their season is, to see their reality?
A: This is happening when you have some doubt, but honestly we have zero doubt. It makes sense to close the agreement. Earlier is better. Then we can be focused on the race.

Q: So speaking about the rest, because you have effectively four riders. What is the reality with Garrett Gerloff?
A: Of course you can imagine, we are more than happy with the result he has shown this year. More than happy with the way he is progressing, the relationship with Yamaha, the relationship with the team, so we would like to go ahead together also for the future. Then currently we are discussing with the rider and his management.

Q: Is there interest to take him to MotoGP? Is there genuine interest to maybe you should bring Garrett now to GP? Will you be in some way in competition with the guys in GP?
A: No. There is an open collaboration between us and the MotoGP colleagues. Of course, it's nice honestly to see that this world superbike platform is able to develop a rider interesting also for the MotoGP. We miss since two years. I believe the last was Petrucci and Morbidelli. So it’s nice to know that MotoGP teams are considering our riders. It’s showing that the platform is working well.

Q: Why did Toprak not consider MotoGP? Everyone says he has an offer.
A: I believe you have listened from his mouth. His dream is to be World Superbike Champion first. Then we are working in order to make this happen. If this will not be the case this year, we have to more seasons to farther improve the competitiveness of our package and then try next year.

Q: What about the other riders, the other guys in the group?
A: Honestly, Locatelli is doing what we expected. Step by step improving the feeling with the team, with the team, with the class. He’s the guy who maybe needs a bit more time, but when he achieves some performance can maintain. We have seen this. Then I expect him already second half of the season to be better and better. So, he is aligned with our expectations by the work he has shown. In Estoril he was fifth place, fighting with much more experienced riders than him. It’s something unexpected, I would say. So, congratulations to him. But still he has enough time in front of him to farther improve his feeling with the bike. Then our target is to give him the time and if the development of the performance, if step by step he improves the performance, we will go ahead together.  

Q: He’s on a one-year deal at the moment? With a one-year option?
A: Yeah, there is an option based on the results. In this moment, he is aligned with the expectation.

Q: And Kohta Nozane?
A: Nozane also is a nice surprise. It’s tough to remember a Japanese doing as good as him. Everything is new for him, so he’s learning new tracks. Tires new. Also one of the secrets is also the culture. It’s tough for a young person to live in Europe. So he has in front of him a lot of challenges. We have seen in Misano that he is able to fight with riders with much more experience. He has to work for the second half of the race in order to keep the pace. This is what we are doing. Also in his case, we would like to go ahead together in 2022. In this moment, we are helping him to develop his skill, to understand better the championship and try to be more consistent the second half of the race.

Q: Do you think in general terms, is it easier for a worldSBK rider to come from a superbike series rather than a supersport series? Is it better to come from MotoAmerica, BSB, or Japan, when you already have a bike with electronics, with a big engine, and so on, than any rider to come from 600?
A: No. There are difficulties from both sides. Who comes from the national championship doesn’t know the racetracks, and maybe the tire difference. Who comes from the supersport, knows all the racetracks. He is somewhat familiar with Pirelli and the championship. So both have difficulties. In my opinion when you are a good rider, it doesn’t matter if you come from national championship or Supersport.

Q: So it’s not like everyone in the paddock now is looking to national or everybody is looking to supersport?
A: Yes. Clearly from our side we are looking from the best riders. We have this fantastic, wide racing program, and then we are in the position to look for riders from the national championship like Garrett and Nozane, but also in supersport.

Q: With the 300 Yamaha, you continue. I remember speaking to Eric De Seynes and he said, we want to build a big base. We want to have lots of different people here.
A: This is exactly what we plan to do. This is now finally we are proud that we are offering a step-up structure to kids of twelve years old. This is something unique. We can offer affordable racing program to see the performance of the professional team. Honestly, when we came back racing, the paddock had only a few blue bikes. Every year the introduction of a new model, so we started with the R1 in 2016. In ’15 we were present with a stock, and we have the superbike in ’16. ’17 we launched the R6.

In ’18 the R3. Step by step we have improved and increased our presence in the paddock. This year we are the most popular manufacturer chosen by the riders. So, almost 50% of the riders are using a Yamaha machine. Then on top of this, we have also the R3 coming. All the models are competitive in all the classes, but it’s not enough. It’s fundamental the racing program for we are good in the championship because we believe it’s the right platform to promote the product and to develop the riders. It is fundamental in our opinion to offer a step-up program based on pure results. So, the R3 is becoming a strategic racing program.

It’s a first step. It’s an entry-level class. The winner is granted a seat in the world supersport 300. Based on the pure performance of the kids, if the guy deserves, we are ready to promote him to give him the chance to step up and to become a professional rider. This is not just words to tell you. This is fact and true what we have done so far. So, having almost 50% of the grid is not only – we are glad of this, but also this gives us a big responsibility and we are an important player in the championship. Our responsibility is clear. Then we act in a way to promote the sport, giving the young kids the possibility to become professional riders through the bLU cRU program.