EXCITING CONTENT in any kind of ‘ Superteens ’ category he was training in . Because Toprak was - and he said it , not me - “ 11 , maybe 12 years old . At a Turkish championship track , a small one . Not like Istanbul Park . I was very small at the time . First time I feel the road touch my knee , incredible feeling , and after I started racing .” Once Toprak had kissed his knee on the ground , his previous love of Motocross was dumped , with just off road riding one of his bike hobbies now . “ I never ride again motocross because I don ’ t like it ,” said Razgatlioglu , as forthright as ever . “ After I crashed in motocross , I had some big pain . I don ’ t like it anymore !” Road racing is hardly the place to go to avoid pain , but Toprak was off onto the road racing trail , following the early lead of Sofuoglu eventually . “ After , Kenan was first to go to Europe , in the Yamaha R6 Cup in Germany . We followed this oneBefore we went to the selection for the R6 cup , we went to Istanbul Park . Kenan was also coming . Just three , maybe two , young boys . We all rode the bikes , but I am fast . Also Kenan rides together with us , watching . Also , I see first time Kenan , like every rider also in Moto2 use rear brake , sliding enter the corner . I saw this for first time Kenan try braking and sliding . I ’ m watching . Sliding entering the corner . I ’ m surprised because I saw it for the first time . I ride just like normal . After , I went in 2011 and ’ 12 to the R6 Cup . The first year I ’ m not fast , but strange , wet conditions my best position fourth . Strange … Normally I don ’ t like wet conditions . But , in the dry conditions my best position , 13th . Very slow …. Second year , I ’ m very fast . Also in my first race , I started pole position , but on the last lap I crashed . Second position rider was five seconds back . I ’ m very fast , but I crash . After , because my way to race was finish and after R6 cup , I don ’ t have another way . So we tried Rookies Cup . We go to Rookies Cup selection in 2013 and ’ 14 . In 2014 Rookies Cup finish because it is only possible to ride there for two years . Again , I don ’ t have a way .” Time for a re-think . “ Kenan said , ‘ We go to STK600 , last race . We go to France , Magny-Cours .’ I said , ‘ OK ,’ because I don ’ t have a ride . Kenan collected me from Istanbul airport with car . We came to France with the car , not a flight .” From Istanbul ? “ Yeah , with car ,” confirmed Toprak . Why ?! “ I don ’ t know . He liked it !? On the road , we are talking , really my first time with Kenan . We were talking a long time alone . Before , we were just like ‘ How are you ?,’ He would say , ‘ Fine .’ - just talking small . I rode for the first time at Magny Cours but not a good bike . Kenan had spoken with Manuel Puccetti who organised a STK600 Kawasaki but the team not big level . Small level . I rode it - and we won the first race . The team was very happy and they cried because it was a first time win for them ! A very good weekend for me . After Kenan spoke with Manuel about 2015 . Also have had a Stock 600 team , two riders . 2015 I start with Puccetti . The first five races I won and I was Stock600 champion .” The Supersport championship , and following his dream to follow Sofuoglu ’ s 600cc footsteps , was next in Toprak ’ s agenda . But not Kenan ’ s . “ I wanted to be Kenan ’ s teammate , his WorldSSP teammate . But Kenan said , ‘ You will ride Stock1000 , because my plan for you is to be a Superbike rider .’ I said OK - but inside I said not ! My dream was to be Kenan ’ s teammate . But he said ‘ you ride STK1000 . A very different bike . For two years I rode a Kawasaki 1000 in Stock . In 2017 there was a big crash . My shoulder was out , and after it was not possible to ride on Sunday . For just maybe four points , three points I was in second position at the end . Michael Rinaldi was the champion . Not a bad year . After I rode a Superbike for the first time . For me , Superbike was very bad . I have more memories because 2018 every race I try , but not coming good position . Eighth , ninth , eighth , tenth , twelfth … I say , I think I ’ m not a good superbike rider ( he forgets he was on the podium at Donington , in May 2018 ). ‘ My level is not enough .’ I said it like this . We were in France , Magny-Cours . I spoke with Kenan here . I drink tea … Kenan drink coffee … I say , ‘ This is for me the last , because not coming podium , not coming good positions , every race 15 seconds , 12 seconds , 20 seconds behind . I say , ‘ enough ’. Also , you give me money , but not coming good positions . I think better finish . I go back to Turkey . I go Alanya , because we have a motorbike shop .” I said , “ Better I stay in my shop .” Do you know why this sudden change ? “ I don ’ t know ,” he confesses . “ But coming afterwards - motivation . Also Argentina , again podium .” Yes , rookie podiums , Kawasaki in a private team . Not shabby but at times still not enough for Toprak . Wins in the second year , on basically still a private Kawasaki , and the rest of Yamaha factory history since 2020 . One of the key elements of Toprak ’ s race make-up is his aggression , his exuberant riding style and lavish on-bike stunts . This approach could not be further removed from his off-bike character . Laid back is understating things . Somnambulant ? Maybe not quite . He is a happy yet seriously chilled-out individual , as soon as he gets off the bike . “ Normally everybody says for me , I ’ m like the ice man ,” said Toprak . “ I ’ m always relaxed , normal . I mean , sometimes I ’ m like ‘ jumping ’. But normally , always I ’ m relaxed . I ride the bike different . Different character . But you remember the last race in Navarra , with Johnny ? ( When Rea put in some hard passes ) I said , this is a race . Also , I like it and I ’ m feeling good . When I am training on the bike with Kenan always - always - we are touching , always clash together . I feel that ’ s like normal . You remember also in Most . I did not touch Scott , but Jonny touched me . I said , this is normal . This is the race !” Kenan seems to run a very hard school . He ’ s a very strong guy . He demands a lot from his many students , as he is charged by his own sports ministry to bring on young Turkish riding talent . They race each other - literally - every day they can . “ We are training all together ,” said Toprak of riding elbow-to-elbow at Kenan ’ s private circuit in Turkey . “ We always go to five or six PM , in the afternoon , because it can get very hot and the asphalt can get destroyed . We always ride together with Kenan because he also likes to fight . We are learning like this . Kenan doesn ’ t say , ‘ you try this , this …’ He does not say this . Just we ride together first . After we finish the training , we speak . He says , ‘ you pass like this , but you try also this .’ We speak in this fashion . We are learning . After we arrive again , we try and we improve . Everybody improves because we are four riders together riding . He might say , ‘ You ride like this … why ? Better you ride like this , it is faster .’ Then he does and rides like this . He is always helping . Bahattin , Can , Deniz , Kenan , me . Big fighting . Now we are not all together because Dennis race different date , and Can , Bahattin different too . Normally when we are all together , we always like to race . We start 15 lap races . In the day , two times . It ’ s very good training for us . We have Kenan because Kenan is very good at the organisation . Kenan speaks with the Turkish Sports Ministry . Now Turkey is helping Deniz , Can , Bahattin , me . But now , I am at a good level now . Before , big help from them . Turkish sponsored bike in 2019 , was a big
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