Razgatlioglu dropped a bombshell final 12 months when he introduced he might be ending a four-year relationship with Yamaha to hitch BMW in WSBK in 2024.
The transfer attracted a good bit of scepticism from onlookers, as BMW has struggled to bother the frontrunners because it returned as a manufacturing unit to WSBK in 2019.
Since its comeback, BMW has scored only a single victory within the high stage 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.
Nonetheless, Razgatlioglu is optimistic in regards to the potential of the BMW M1000R based mostly 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 advised Motorsport.com Germany. “I’m conscious that the primary two tracks are tough.
“On Phillip Island and in Barcelona you at all times must handle the rear tyre. That may be a bit tough, however we are going to do our greatest. Issues ought to go higher within the races after that. I wish to struggle for victories on my favourite tracks.”
He added: “I wish to win the championship for these individuals. Which may not occur in 2024, however it should in 2025. I imagine within the bike and I can see how laborious everyone seems to be working. That drives me on much more.
“Once I see how the others are working, it spurs me on to work even tougher on myself. If we work nicely collectively, then hopefully at some point we are going to win the championship collectively.”
Picture by: BMW AG
Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew, Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Crew
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 12 months with Yamaha.
The M1000RR was repeatedly criticised by his predecessor Scott Redding, who has moved throughout to the satellite tv for pc Bonovo crew to make means for him on the manufacturing unit squad.
However Razgatlioglu was really impressed with how the bike behaved on monitor, and feels it could possibly be improved additional over time.
“No one 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 robust.
“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 robust engine braking impact on the entrance to the nook. That is good, as a result of I at all times had plenty of issues with the engine brake on the Yamaha.”
“The engine brake is absolutely robust on the BMW,
“However we nonetheless must tune it higher. As a result of once I brake laborious, I can not but play with the bike in addition to I might 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 a very good set-up, then I can actually take pleasure in using,” he mentioned. Once we get the engine brake below management, then we will struggle!.
“As quickly as we’ve discovered a set-up for my using model, we will struggle for victories.
“I do not know whether or not we will struggle for the championship this 12 months. I am concentrating on podiums and race wins in the intervening time. Let’s examine how issues develop after that.”
