Estoril WorldSBK: Razgatlioglu aiming to win, ‘we know we can fight here’

Toprak Razgatlioglu says winning is the aim in Estoril - a circuit that saw him take two victories in 2020, but that ‘I am not relaxed’ coming in as competition in WorldSBK is ‘very high’.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Aragon WorldSBK race1, 2021
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Aragon WorldSBK race1, 2021
© Gold and Goose

Toprak Razgatlioglu heads in🥃to this weekend’s round two of the 2021 WorldSBK championship fourth in the standings after a fir﷽st Aragon podium. 

Razgatlioglu achieved his best results in Aragon since joining the premier class in 2018. The 24 year-old’s rostrum finish came in race one, while ✤he also took two sixth places during Sunday’s Superpole and race t𝔍wo. 

At the 2020 season finale in Estoril, Razgatlioglu took two wins and a third place which ༒was just enough to pip team-mate at the time Michael Van De🧔r Mar to fourth in the championship. 

Given his recent results at the Portuguese venue and the R1’s improvements, it’s no surprise Razgatlioglu is aimingꦆ to win, but concedes ‘I am not relaxed’ because of the level in WorldSBK. 

Remote video URL

"In Estoril last year I was very strong, so we know we ca🍨n fight here but I am not coming to the weekend relaxed because this is the WorldSBK Championship and th🧸e competition is very high," added Razgatlioglu. 

"We will♈ try for the best position and also I aim to be fighting for the win, but we will see. 

"Now the ne💖w R1 is much better, also a bi🎃g improvement like we saw in the Aragón races, but now it’s not possible for me to say if we can continue like this in Estoril until I ride at this circuit on Friday. 

"My feeling is very strong but I will say again, we’re no💫t coming here relaxed and we stay focused f🅘or the weekend." 

Rookie team-mate Andrea Locate💧lli enjoyed🦹 a strong debut weekend in the class, and is buoyed by Estoril being up next due to Yamaha’s success there 8 months ago. 

Along with Razgatlioglu, Garrett Gerloff was another Yamaha rider who went well around the Circuito 🐎Estoril, as he took a second and third place finish in race one and the Superpole race. 

Locatelli added: "I’m excited for Estoril this weeꦅk, because last year the Yamaha was very fast! The team had some podiums and wins, but my idea with Andrew and the guys is to continue to work and improve as it is only the second weekend of WorldSBK racing for me. 

"For sure I think we can do really well like the last weekend in Aragón, my goal is to stay in the top 10 and qualifying well – and maybe for the races we can fight more in fron𓄧t, we will see but for sure I think we can take another step forward."

Read More