MotoGP has been waiting for Toprak Razgatlioglu for the past five years, since the Turkish rider won his first World Superbike title. Some observers call him the Marc Márquez of World Superbike, so there’s no doubt he has mountains high and rivers deep of talent. But does he have enough to become the first WSBK champion to go all the way in MotoGP?
World Superbike is motorcycle racing’s touring cars (modified street bikes), while MotoGP is its Formula 1. The difference in machinery isn’t so pronounced on two wheels, but Razgatlioglu still has a lot of learning to do.
His killer skill on a superbike is his corner-entry technique. He has a unique ability to play with the so-called traction circle, somehow combining the conflicting forces of braking and turning to find speed where others find the gravel trap.
“First, I need some podiums, then after that I can build, going step by step”
It is no coincidence that this is where Márquez makes the difference in MotoGP, because while corner speed in motorcycle racing is mostly governed by edge grip and exit speed is largely overseen by traction control, the braking phase is purely down to rider skill. As he hurtles towards a corner, he must control a combined man/machine mass of around 230kg, which pitches violently forward, threatening to overwhelm the front tyre and throw him over the handlebars. First, to avoid disaster, and then to find a few thousandths of a second, the rider modulates front and rear brake pressure and constantly adjusts his body position to balance the motorcycle and extract maximum stopping power from both tyres. It’s a high-risk moment, where he who dares, wins.
Razgatlioglu is so good at braking that he often ends up aiming for the apex with the rear tyre floating 6in above the racetrack. This shouldn’t work. But somehow it does. He attributes his abilities to a life lived in another dimension: stunt riding, acrobatics, gymnastics and breakdancing. Therefore his inner gyroscope gives him remarkable balance, agility and motor co-ordination.
However, MotoGP’s Michelin front slick is trickier than the Pirelli front Razgatlioglu has used for so long in WSBK, so he doesn’t expect an easy rookie season.
“The first touch with the Michelin [during off-season testing] wasn’t so bad, but I need to understand the limit because now I don’t know the limit, so maybe I will have to have some crashes to understand.
“Everyone is very excited – ‘Finally Toprak is coming!’ – but I’m always telling everyone, ‘Please, this is my first year in MotoGP, a learning year, so don’t expect results like in World Superbike, because MotoGP is a completely different championship.’”
