WorldSBK Assen: Razgatlioglu relishing ‘strong’ return

WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu heads to the ‘Cathedral of Speed’ this weekend as Pata Yamaha takes on the TT Circuit Assen.

While the opening round of the FIM Superbike World Championship got off to a record-breaking start for the reigning champ as he claimed pole position, the races didn’t quite go as planned. A trio of third places, behind the dominating duo of Alvaro Bautista and Jonathan Rea, left the Turk reevaluating his YZF-R1 and chasing the impressive pace shown throughout preseason testing.

The Dutch round’s top step has eluded the Yamaha squad in recent years, with Razgatlioglu and teammate Andrea Locatelli both securing third positions in last season’s action. However, the 25-year-old is hoping to become the manufacturer’s first winner since Ben Spies in 2009, this weekend.

“I like Assen a lot and even with some bad luck, last year we were very strong there,” Razgatlioglu said confidently. “I hope to be able to fight for race wins again and will try my best. I am very lucky to have an incredible team.

“Yamaha and the team, they never give up, they have done an incredible job over the winter and we have been fastest in winter testing again and again – also pole position in Aragon. It is this feeling I want to take to Assen, we will try our best to work for the races and we will see.”