THE BIG READ to some children . It is very good for the child and they will have a good memory . I do not need the trophies because the race result is enough for me . Also , it gives a very good feeling to the people who get the trophies , to some child or some other person . I see that they are very happy and I am even more happy . For me , this is the most important thing .”
He does of course have some of the bigger trophies in Turkey , as he explained . “ I do not have a big collection of winner ’ s trophies at home . In 2021 and 2022 I took only two , maybe three trophies back to my home in Turkey . The others I give to the team or some other people .”
It is not that Toprak does not value the trophies , it seems he understands that other people would value them even more . And it is one trophy in particular he would never be parted from . “ OK , a trophy is important but the most important in the World Championship Trophy ,” he said . “ I am just focused on the Championship Trophy . Not the race winning ones , Just sometimes , if I love a particular winner ’ s trophy - I think it is a very nice trophy - I will take it home .”
Another current WorldSBK factory rider , Alex Lowes from KRT , is one who keeps ‘ the biggies ’ but has also given some away . He has a nice collection from BSB , as well as two WorldSBK wins and 31 other podium places . “ There are a lot of my BSB trophies at my Mum and Dad ’ s ,” he said . “ I don ’ t think I have all my BSB trophies . Some went to sponsors , things like that . At my own house , in the garage , I have like a racing suit from every year , and a helmet , and I keep a lot of my World Championship trophies there . I have pretty much got all the ‘ good ones .’ All my Suzuka 8 Hours winner ’ s trophies , I have got them all together there . And a couple of sets of my Suzuka leathers as well . I have most of my trophies . I try to give some kit and a set a leathers that you have done well in to good causes .”
Some racers keep their stuff all around them , understandable of course . But for Lowes , that display is very , very limited , in the interest of a happy home life . “ I have got a lot of stuff but in my house , the actual house , you wouldn ’ t know that I race bikes . But the last trophies , the most recent one , I am ‘ allowed ’ to keep on a little shelf in the living room . If I get some more trophies early this year then we can change them up a bit , and move the current one out to the garage !”
A new rider in WorldSSP this year , but a recent BSB Champion , is Tarran Mackenzie ( Petronas MIE - MS Racing Honda Team ). He ’ s the younger son of Niall , of course . Tarran is another who has given some trophies away , quite a few it seems , but holds some of them near and dear . “ The BSB trophy is at home ,” he said . “ And the ten wins when I won the BSB Championship , they are all lined up , with the BSB Championship Trophy at the end of it . Some other trophies are in the garage , some are up the loft ( the attic ). But I think I had over 40 podium trophies . This year I kept all the winners ’ ones but gave away the podium ones to mechanics or sponsors , so they could put them in their workshops or offices . The first place ones , I like to keep , because to win is always special .” No trophy room yet , but Tarran says
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