Razgatlioglu: Big pressure at factory team, Yamaha adaptations

Toprak Razgatlioglu concedes he’s already “feeling big pressure” ahead of his first factory ride in the World Superbike championship having signed for Pata Yamaha.

The Turkish rider moves from Puccetti Kawasaki to the factory Yamaha squad this winter, with Alex Lowes heading to the factory Kawasaki squad as a result, as Razgatlioglu prepares to adapt to the new Yamaha YZF-R1 having spent his entire international career competing on Kawasaki machinery.

After the Pata Yamaha team was officially launched at the EICMA show in Milan, Razgatlioglu gained his first contact with the new R1 on a static model in preparation for his maiden test at Aragon next week.

Razgatlioglu’s immediate feeling was how small the R1 felt compared to the Kawasaki ZX-10R, having spent the past for seasons on that bike, but is eager to adapt himself to the R1 ahead of his maiden factory ride in the World Superbike championship.

“Now I am really happy because I have joined the Yamaha family. For me it is the first time at a factory team and with a team-mate. I am feeling big pressure as this is a factory racing team and next season I need to do a very good job. We will see,” Razgatioglu said.

“I saw my bike but it was not possible to ride. Now I will wait until next week as we will test at Aragon. I am happy and ready for the next season.

“I feel normal on my old bike, I feel too much difference because the bike is very tight and small and the Kawasaki feels big and that isn’t right yet. Right now it is a big feeling difference but I am happy in a new team and new colours so I hope for good results next season.”

The Pata Yamaha team starts its winter testing programme next week at Aragon before heading on to Jerez at the end of November to give both Razgatlioglu and team-mate Michael van der Mark their first official track time on the new R1.

The Dutch rider has warmly welcomed his new team-mate into the Yamaha fold and is intrigued to see how Razgatioglu adapts to his new surroundings.

“I feel me and Toprak have a good connection already and, on track, we have had some nice battles, so we know what to expect from each other,” van der Mark said. “I am really curious to see what he will do on the R1 but for sure, he will be fast.”