From the minute he arrived in the paddocks of Europe people have been talking about how talented Toprak Razgatlioglu is . From the minute he got on a full WorldSBK machine people have been taking about how much potential he has . After a quick and now seemingly complete apprenticeship , people are now talking about Razgatlioglu ’ s position at the very top of the WorldSBK championship standings . We looked into Toprak ’ s past , present and future to better understand this rider and why his great mentor Kenan Sofuoglu may be right in thinking that he has more pure talent than even the greatest WorldSSP rider of all time .
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Before we start , imagine what it is like for a rider from Turkey , even with lots of help from the great pathfinder Kenan Sofuoglu , coming to race in Europe . Turkey may have one foot in Europe and one in Asia , but on balance , anybody who has been there knows that even at its most cosmopolitan and outward looking Turkey is a very different kind of place than even its next nearest neighbours in Europe . Toprak - ‘ Top Cat ’ to his European crew - remembers his early ventures into Europe , first as a Yamaha Cup rider in Germany ( like a certain Sofuoglu before him ) and then as a really quite good Rookies Cup rider in the MotoGP™ paddock . The GP paddock was not for him , however , first by not having another ride , and more recently , by his own very public choice . “ When first I came to Europe , for me it was very difficult ,” explained Toprak . “ I wasn ’ t going alone , I was always with Kenan . After , when I start coming here alone , for me not easy . Also I understand Kenan . Kenan always explained things , and I stayed many years in Holland . Alone , I didn ’ t have a Turkish friend . I have a team , and I speak to everybody . If you speak Turkish , for me much better . First few seasons for me , not easy , but after Can and Bahattin ( fellow Turks Öncü and Sofuoglu , respectively ) came to Europe , we are all together . For me much better because sometimes after dinner , I go to Can ’ s hospitality and sometimes we are watching movies , we are talking . Sometimes we go to dinner together . For me now much better now .” To some extent , Razgatlioglu is still a completely Turkish native , as every chance he gets he heads home to be where everything is familiar , and of course , to see his family . His mum and his brother . “ Yes , after the races I ’ ll go home ,” said Toprak . “ After the race , if I have one week free , so better stay home because I prefer it to being in Europe . Now , we have Catalunya and Jerez and Portimao , three weeks of racing together . I stay in Europe for these because maybe one day travel between them and two or three days free . No problem . But one week free ; for me that is too much in Europe . I like always going back to Turkey and always at home . After a good race I go back and I sleep in my own room . It ’ s incredible for me . After a win , much better to go home ! I stay with my mum . Also , I have two homes , in Sakarya and Alanya . Different place , because my brother lives in Alanya . Alanya is like a holiday place . Very , very nice . Many tourists coming in the summer . Winter , not so good in Alanya because … not everywhere is closed , but it ’ s not like summer . When I finish the season , I go back to Alanya maybe two months , a little bit of holiday . This year I ’ m not on holiday . I ’ m just training , race , training , race . Always like this . Why ? Normally if possible I go to Alanya for one week , maybe two weeks for holiday . But my mind is not relaxed . If I go to holiday , inside my feeling is not good because I have another race soon . On holiday I ’ m not training , I ’ m coming for holiday - so I don ’ t go ! I stay in Sakarya , training every day and feeling much better - because this is my job . Every race need a good finishing position , and it ’ s very important for championship . I ’ m staying in Sakarya , training every day when I go home .” Small matter of the biggest production-derived world championship at stake
“ After the race , if I have one week free , so better stay home because I prefer it to being in Europe ”
this season , of course . It is obvious things have taken a step-up for Toprak this year , in his approach off-track too . If Razgatlioglu were to win the championship this year , it would be an immense personal achievement , but also another huge milestone for Turkish racing in general . So why did Razgatlioglu even want to become a big time bike racer , when the sport has not been such a big deal until relatively recently . Istanbul Park Circuit ? Kenan the six times champion ? No . Toprak ’ s father . “ Normally in Turkey motorcycles are not famous ,” explains Toprak . “ Everybody is scared . Not everybody , but every young boy likes the bikes , but every family does not like it - dangerous . In Turkey , always football has been very famous . But I start with motorcycle because I see my father doing it . He rode bikes , did stunts , wheelies , stoppies .” Yes , we had heard that , but as fun , or for a job ? Mostly the former , it seems , but not entirely . “ Fun ,” said Toprak , before modifying his idea slightly . “ Also , he goes to every race for stunt and the show . Sometimes he takes money , if somebody called him and says , ‘ please come for a show ?’ He would go
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