TNT Sports
Toprak Razgatlioglu's manager responds to speculation about MotoGP switch - 'WorldSBK is his home'
By
Published 22/04/2023 at 21:53 GMT+1
Toprak Razagatlioglu was "built for WorldSBK" and is being advised against a move to MotoGP, the Yamaha rider's manager has said. Kenen Sofuoglu responded to speculation about the 26-year-old's future after he tested a MotoGP bike in Spain during the week. Sofuoglu insisted that "WorldSBK is Toprak’s home" ahead of the Dutch Round this weekend.
Image credit: Getty Images
Toprak Razgatlioglu's manager has insisted that "World SBK is his home" amid speculation of a move to MotoGP.
Razgatlioglu, who won the Superbike World Championship in 2021 before finishing second last year, took part in a test on a MotoGP bike at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto ahead of this weekend’s WorldSBK Dutch Round.
But his manager Kenen Sofuoglu explained that the 26-year-old is "built for WorldSBK" and that he has been counselling the Yamaha rider to stay where he is.
“Our first choice is to continue with Yamaha. We will start speaking about Toprak’s future from our side and also from Yamaha’s side,” he said.
“The first goal is to do a deal together and then we have to decide where to go, MotoGP or World SBK.
“This is on the table. I am always telling him to stay in WorldSBK. Many years ago, I took Toprak with me and I built him for WorldSBK. I didn’t build him for MotoGP.
“He is very talented, maybe more talented than many MotoGP riders, but MotoGP is a different world. I believe to be a MotoGP rider, you need to grow there. From the Red Bull Rookies Cup, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP.
“Toprak grew here. WorldSBK is Toprak’s home. I am telling Toprak, ‘we built you for WorldSBK and you can, for the next 10 years, have a big career here’.
“I always advise to stay in WorldSBK but I’m also respecting his dream. Maybe he’s in between and doesn’t know exactly what to do. We are just speaking.
"He will make a decision, but I believe we will continue in WorldSBK.”
Razgatlioglu, from Turkey, is currently second in the WorldSBK Championship standings with 91 points, behind runaway leader Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) of Spain.
Bautista won race one in Assen on Saturday, with the sprint race and the second feature race to come on Sunday.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement