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Toprak Razgatlioglu isn’t fully satisfied with his second place, at the end of a strange Race 1 in which the weather conditions and the unpredictability of the red flag decreed Spinelli’s almost fairytale-like victory. This left the Turkish rider in disbelief and somewhat bitter, since he had been climbing up in the standings and was already sensing the victory in his heart. An opportunity that has been postponed until tomorrow on a circuit that the BMW rider calls "almost a home circuit": the track of the cathedral of speed in Assen on which a victory is still missing from Toprak's list of wins. But, despite the near victory, the Turkish rider seems increasingly satisfied with the performance of his BMW, and he doesn’t hide the fact that he aspires to also win the championship.
"I'm not overjoyed with this result," the Turkish rider said at the end of the race, "I'm lucky and unlucky at the same time because, if I hadn't overtaken, I wouldn't be second now. But, if the race had lasted at least one more lap, maybe I could've won it. It was a strange race, but I enjoyed it, especially in the first sector where I was looking for an optimal trajectory. I stayed calm in the early stages of the race, staying in the pack, especially at turn five, where the track was still dry before it started to rain. After the stop, everyone lowered their pace, even though the first sector became more difficult to contend with. We did a very good job, even on the BMW. Today, in my mind, I only thought of winning, but then there was the red flag. Tomorrow, I'll face two more races with the same mentality. On the track, I only had a small engine brake problem that we'll work on, in order to be more competitive before tomorrow."
Why did you choose to start with the slicks despite the track being wet?
"That's true. There was still some rain falling on the track, but it was light. I looked up, and the clouds were disappearing, and you could see a clear sky. Maybe, from that moment on, it would've stopped raining after a few minutes. It's hard to judge. Sometimes, clouds higher up don't bring rain. During the race, it started to rain in sectors two and three. But then, when it stopped, the circuit was dry. In sector one, we all went more cautiously. Then I continued with Bautista, but without pushing. There was no need to, and I knew that he was using the mediums. Maybe, with another lap, we could've won. Now I'm thinking about the two races tomorrow. I hope the weather will be better. This is a special weekend. Almost a home circuit. I've never won here, neither I nor BMW. We both need a win here in Assen."
Before you saw Nicholas, did you know you had another rider in front of you?
"I saw him at the beginning of the race. The time of two corners. Then he was already in Amsterdam!" Toprak said jokingly.
What was your first thought at the red flag?
"Honestly, I was angry. I knew I could catch him. I had a really fast pace, but these are things that can happen in races. I'm happy for him. He did a great job with the mediums. In the end, it was a gamble. I still think the slicks were the right choice, reasoning over multiple laps. The fastest riders all made the same choice. No one expected a red flag."
You have to admit that a rider who arrives in the Superbike the first time, replacing another, and then winning, is quite a story.
"Yes, definitely. Racing is also this."
Did you notice the oil on the track at 15?
"Honestly, no. But, besides my feelings, no one fell. I can't explain the red flag. But I understand that it wasn't an easy decision for Dorna, with all the riders on the track. Of course, they could've waited another lap...," he joked, again.
What do you think of the BMW here in Assen. A different circuit compared to Phillip Island and Barcelona.
"It's an interesting race. Here, for example, I have problems with the engine brake. It doesn't work as it should, and I have problems. Getting the bike to curve as I'd like in some corners is something we have to work on. If you can't stop the bike, you risk going wide, and this isn't optimal for the front tire. Other bikes bend quite easily. But I know the BMW has potential. It's just a matter of finding the right set-up."
You tried Yamaha's M1 twice to get into the MotoGP, but then you remained in the Superbike. What do you see now in your future?
"When I tested the M1, there was talk of that possibility. Normally, I would need to have tried three different set-ups, But, instead, there was only one bike to try. I also didn't have a lot of tire options. I think four, but I don't really remember. Anyway, I tried it on those two days. Usually, I wouldn't have ridden on the second day but, talking to Kenan, we decided to be respectful of the opportunity offered by Yamaha for what they had organized. All the young guys dream of riding a MotoGP bike. I did, and that made me happy. Then, when Yamaha decided I wasn't going to the MotoGP, we talked about the renewal but didn't reach an agreement, so I turned to BMW. I'm really happy here now. It's a new challenge for me. Now I feel more motivated than before and, every weekend so far, we've worked well. Podiums are an achievement I share with the whole team. With each session, we improve. We might even win the title with BMW. Why not? Then, in the near future, who knows. Anything is possible."
