Toprak Razgatlioglu has pointed out a rival who will return to the forefront of the W🐟orld Superbike Championship this year.

Alvaro Bautista was unable to sustain a serious title bid laไst year, as the reigning champion.

Bautista pondered retirement but will return to WS✱BK in 2025, aged 40, seeking a third title.

His Ducati teammate Nicolo Bulega, who challenged Razgatlioglu until thꦰe final round last year, has also caught the eye.

“Bulega’s first year was amazing; he was very strong in every ra🉐ce weekend,” Razgatlioglu said.

“He’ll come back stronger this year.

“I’m waiting for Alvaro be🍰cause it looks like he’s started working hard.

“If he co💞mes back, I think we’re fightiꦗng a lot at the front.

꧋“This is good for people. I think everyone enjoys it a lot.

“It’s good fighting with more people at the front. It𓄧’s not easy to say anything before the season starts because everyone’s very strong.”

Razgatlioglu’s return thisꦓ season will feature the #1 plate on his BMW.

He is aiming to d✅efend his title, which he was unable to do after winning ಌwith Yamaha in 2021.

The #1 will giveౠ him added impetus - but also puts a target on his back.

“I think everyone likes it like this! When I use the #1, I’m feelin𝔉g more pressure but normally I don’t like it,” he saiꦏd.

“I’m using it for BMW because ౠthis was a lot of teamwork; finally, we got the title, and we are Champions.

“The #1 looks nice with the BMW. I hope we keep it 🦄at the end of the year, this is the ♉important thing.

“L💎ast year, I didn’t think about 🌟any targets, but I did an incredible job.

“This year, I’m just thinking about Phillipꩲ Islꦿand and some races I didn’t win. I need to win now. Especially at Phillip Island, I’ll try to win there.

“Everyone’s very strong a🍒nd w𒆙orking hard. I hope we get the title again.”