Razgatlioglu dropped a bombshell final yr when he introduced he shall be ending a four-year relationship with Yamaha to affix BMW in WSBK in 2024.
The transfer attracted a good bit of scepticism from onlookers, as BMW has struggled to hassle the frontrunners because it returned as a manufacturing facility to WSBK in 2019.
Since its comeback, BMW has scored only a single victory within the high degree of superbike racing, courtesy of Michael van der Mark in a rain-hit Superpole contest at Portimao in 2021.
Final season, the German producer failed to complete on the rostrum even as soon as, regardless of a droop in efficiency from Kawasaki making it simpler to breach the highest three spots in comparison with the earlier years.
Nevertheless, Razgatlioglu is optimistic concerning the potential of the BMW M1000R primarily based on his preliminary impressions of the bike, and feels he could possibly be contending for the championship in his second season with the marque.
“We’re not far behind,” the Turkish rider informed Motorsport.com Germany. “I’m conscious that the primary two tracks are troublesome.
“On Phillip Island and in Barcelona you at all times should handle the rear tyre. That could be a bit troublesome, however we’ll do our greatest. Issues ought to go higher within the races after that. I need to combat for victories on my favourite tracks.”
He added: “I need to win the championship for these folks. That may not occur in 2024, however it’ll in 2025. I imagine within the bike and I can see how exhausting everyone seems to be working. That drives me on much more.
“After I see how the others are working, it spurs me on to work even tougher on myself. If we work properly collectively, then hopefully sooner or later we’ll win the championship collectively.”
Photograph by: BMW AG
Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Group, Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Group
Razgatlioglu was in a position to take a look at BMW’s WSBK contender on three completely different tracks in December after ending second within the championship final yr with Yamaha.
The M1000RR was repeatedly criticised by his predecessor Scott Redding, who has moved throughout to the satellite tv for pc Bonovo group to make approach for him on the manufacturing facility squad.
However Razgatlioglu was truly impressed with how the bike behaved on monitor, and feels it could possibly be improved additional over time.
“No person believes on this bike and this model, however I imagine in BMW,” mentioned the 27-year-old. “I’m satisfied that the bike is absolutely sturdy.
“The very first thing I realised was that the bike is absolutely quick on the straights. That is why I instantly needed to grin on my first lap with the BMW.
“I felt a really sturdy engine braking impact on the entrance to the nook. That is good, as a result of I at all times had loads of issues with the engine brake on the Yamaha.”
“The engine brake is absolutely sturdy on the BMW,
“However we nonetheless should tune it higher. As a result of after I brake exhausting, I am unable to but play with the bike in addition to I may with the Yamaha.”
Razgatlioglu, the 2021 WSBK champion, will get two extra take a look at outings in Jerez and Portimao to additional hone the bike earlier than the beginning of the season at Phillip Island on 24-25 February.
“If we work out set-up, then I can actually get pleasure from driving,” he mentioned. After we get the engine brake underneath management, then we are able to combat!.
“As quickly as we have now discovered a set-up for my driving fashion, we are able to combat for victories.
“I do not know whether or not we are able to combat for the championship this yr. I am concentrating on podiums and race wins in the meanwhile. Let’s examine how issues develop after that.”
