UPDATED: Was Toprak Razgatlioglu fast enough for a MotoGP move?
Watch Live Race and all sessions
Watch Replay Race and all sessions
2023 MotoGP Race Calendar,Race Results and Replays
2023 MotoGP Standings
UPDATE: Speaking to MotoGP.com, Yamaha Racing managing director Lin Jarvis said of Razgatlioglu’s test:”I think any rider eventually has an interest to try and see how they would do in MotoGP, so it was a chance for Toprak to start to understand better the needs for MotoGP and for us to see his speed.”We can’t say very much from two days of testing. I think the conclusion he would probably give you and from our side as well, is that it’s very different riding an R1 on Pirelli tyres and riding a MotoGP M1 on Michelins. And you need more time to adapt.”If I would sum it up, probably it was not easy for him to really get the feeling on the bike. “If you watch Toprak riding a superbike he is able to do miracles, he has an incredibly good feeling on the front end in particular. We’ve seen that from his stoppies and incredible corner entry and braking. “That was not so easy to find on the M1. The bike is much more rigid than the superbike, so really I think to gain the speed on a MotoGP bike he would need to adapt his style quite significantly.”Jarvis added: “The ideal scenario for us to be honest is that Franky continues to show the speed he displayed in [Argentina]. Our number one choice would be to continue with Franky [in 2024]. If not we will be obliged to find another candidate and that’s also why we were interested to look at Toprak.”Related Bradl: ‘We didn’t test a Kalex chassis’ Quartararo: Toprak? We’ll see who my team-mate will beIs MotoGP Chasing The American Dream like F1? | MotoGP Podcast EP.84Video of Is MotoGP Chasing The American Dream like F1? | MotoGP Podcast EP.84Original story:With Toprak Razgatlioglu’s second MotoGP test held behind closed doors at Jerez earlier this week, there were again no official lap times issued for the former World Superbike champion on the M1.However, with other MotoGP test teams also present, lap times soon leaked out suggesting a best by Razgatlioglu of 1m 38.860s after 116 laps over the two days.It has been confirmed to that Razgatlioglu’s best time was, as reported, 1.4s behind KTM’s Dani Pedrosa – the fastest rider on track – but closer to 1.0s from official Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow.As at Aragon last year, Crutchlow (who recently underwent knee surgery) was present to help Razgatlioglu adapt to a MotoGP bike, having successfully made the transition from WorldSBK himself in 2011.But as ever with testing, a one-off best lap time only tells part of the story.For example, how many time attacks did Razgatlioglu conduct? What was his average pace like? How much does he still need to adapt his spectacular riding style?understands that Razgatlioglu fitted several new tyres, in the final hour, to set his fastest lap time.But perhaps more concerning in terms of a MotoGP move was that, during the middle of the day, he was said to be running 1m 40s while the fastest MotoGP test riders were setting ‘38s. The official Jerez race lap record is 1m 37.669s and pole record 1m 36.170s.Of course, it was only Razgatlioglu’s second MotoGP outing, on a bike very different to his WorldSBK-spec R1. Razgatlioglu’s talent is also beyond question, having won 33 WorldSBK races and holding second to Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista in the early 2023 standings.Razgatlioglu completes latest MotoGP test, what are his options for 2024?But as things presently stand, it appears Razgatlioglu still has a clear gap to bridge to match the best MotoGP test riders – widely regarded as a ‘first step’ towards being ready for a factory MotoGP race seat. In turn, more changes are needed to his famous riding style to suit the unique nature of a GP machine.”4Razgatlioglu’s manager Kenan Sofuoglu has made clear he will only consider a factory MotoGP place for the 26-year-old. Yamaha is the only MotoGP manufacturer that could offer such an opportunity for 2024, with Franco Morbidelli’s current contract expiring at the end of this season.It is not known when Razgatlioglu might test the M1 again, but he will be back in WorldSBK action at Assen next weekend.
For motorsport news follow TRmotosports on social media.
