WorldSBK Imola: Toprak Razgatlioglu: “I’ve waited every weekend for this, surprised Alvaro Bautista crashed”

Toprak Razgatlioglu says he had been waiting all year to win a feature-length WorldSBK race.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Yamaha World Superbike Imola 2023
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Yamaha World Superbike Imola 2023

Razgatlioglu finally ended Alvaro Bautista’s stre𓄧ak of 14 WorldSBK wins in the long race format, which dated back to race two at Phillip Island last season. 

The Yamaha rider, who won his third ♍Superpole Race🅠 of the year on Sunday, then profited from Bautista making a rare mistake on lap one of Race 2. 

"This year, finally! I’ve waited for this moment for many weekends! I am surprised Alvaro crashed at Turn 3, it was a strang𓂃e crash," said Razgatlioglu wh𓆏o then went on to have a scare of his own. 

"He touched the white lin♋e because after two laps, I did the same and the feeling wa𒁃s that I lost the front and rear, but I didn’t crash. 

"I am happy as I’ve wai൲ted every weekend for this, I tr𒆙ied to ride alone after Alvaro crashed but Axel was very strong. 

"I kept the rear tyre, started to follow him and then passed him in the last three laps. I di🌄dn’t take any risks because for me, it wa🥂s a very important race."

Razgatlioglu didn’t have things all his own way after Bautista’s crash🌠 as another Ducati rider 💟in Axel Bassani proved to be a stiff challenge.

T♏he Italian looked like the favourite for victory after passing Razgatlioglu with eight laps to go, h𒉰owever, the 26-year-old showed better late race pace to deny Bassani a first Superbike win.

Speaking about his Superpole win, and battle with Bautistꦕa, Razgatlioglu added: "I had a better win in the Superpole Race because Alvaro is very strong and had very good pace. 

"I caught him and passed him at Turn 9, where he wasn’t as strong. H♏e rode the last lap very well and into the last chicane, I felt him very close and coming out of Turn 19, there’s a big screen and I saw him very close! 

"I tried hard braking into the final chicane and didn’t stop easy! I took the win; it’s very special because after 0.5s gap,🍰 I closed to up to 🧜him and passed him. 

"70 points is a lot but the Championship is not finished; I’m focusꦅed race by race like 2021, just trying to win."

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