Toprak Razgatlioglu “trusts” Dovizioso, but MotoGP advice “not always easy!”

Reigning WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu has highlighted the importance of having Andrea Dovizioso in his corner during this year’s transition to MotoGP.

Dovizioso, a triple MotoGP title runner-up for Ducati, also raced Honda and Yamaha machinery during a premier-class career lasting from 2008-2022.

The Italian then switched to test riding duties for Yamaha, where he now has the additional role of Rider Performance Advisor.

“Dovi is a really experienced rider. I'm always trusting him, listening to him,” Toprak Razgatlioglu said. “He is very important for me.

“Sometimes he is watching trackside and he is always trying to help me find the way.”

However, knowing what needs to change and making it happen on track are two different things.

“He is explaining, but it’s not always easy to do! But again, I'm always trusting him.

“When I see him in my garage, I'm always happy because he is really helping to understand the MotoGP style.

“We are working together a lot. I hope we will find the way… I need some steps.”

After scoring a first grand prix point with a top Yamaha performance at COTA, Razgatlioglu moved on to Jerez, a track he knows well from Superbike, for last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Despite track knowledges, and a lack of long straights to punish the new V4’s engine output, Jerez proved a tougher a challenge for all the M1s.

Fabio Quartararo, who took a podium from pole position on the inline machine last season, was 20-seconds slower on his way to 14th in this year’s grand prix.

Razgatlioglu was 19th after serving a long lap penalty, then returned for Monday’s test, where he worked on being closer to Quartararo.

“I'm just trying to improve Turns 3 and 4 because I lose a lot,” he said. “The other corners, I'm almost similar like Fabio.”

Understeer is Razgatlioglu’s main problem in those corners.

“Corner 4 when I'm close to other guys, I don’t feel the bike turning immediately,” he said. “I'm going wide. And when I feel this, I keep the brake.

“Normally Fabio just touched a little bit the brake and entered more fast. When I feel I'm going wide I keep the brake. So I'm going slower when I touch the gas again.

“You need to keep more speed there, but the bike does not keep turning. I know this, but still I'm not improve!”

Razgatlioglu efforts to improve in the faster corners was hampered by the Monday wind.

“It's difficult with the wind. It's not easy to ride a GP bike with the wind [due to the wings].

“Last year [on the BMW in WorldSBK] I had only one wing. This year I have many!”

Razgatlioglu finished the test 20th fastest, 1.546s behind leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) and one second from Quartararo.

Pramac team-mate Jack Miller was 16th and Alex Rins 21st.