Toprak Razgatlioglu Threatens to Quit WorldSBK

‘El Turco’ Frustrated by Ducati Dominance, Threatens WorldSBK Exit if Trend Continues.

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Reigning World Superbike Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu has expressed frustration over Ducati’s overwhelming dominance in the 2024 season, suggesting he may consider leaving the series if the trend continues. The Turkish rider’s comments come after a challenging opening round at Phillip Island, Australia, where Ducati riders swept all three races and locked out the podium spots on Sunday.

Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega claimed victory in both the Superpole Race and Race 2, with Andrea Iannone and Danilo Petrucci joining him on the podium in the Superpole Race, and Alvaro Bautista completing the top three in Race 2. Razgatlioglu, the only non-Ducati rider in the top six during Saturday’s Race 1, described the current state of WorldSBK as resembling a “Ducati Cup.”

“Last year, yes, [Nicolo] Bulega [was strong], this year I’m not surprised that he is still fast, and Alvaro [Bautista] is also not bad,” Razgatlioglu told WorldSBK.com after Race 2. “But this year, all Ducatis are on the front. This is not normal, [it’s] why I say Superbike is almost like a ‘Ducati Cup.’ I hope not to continue going like this because everyone is not enjoying it like this. If Superbike continues like this in the future, I’m not thinking to race anymore here.”

Razgatlioglu’s weekend at Phillip Island was far from ideal. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider crashed during testing on Monday and again in the opening minutes of FP1 on Friday. While he managed to secure second place in Race 1 on Saturday, a braking issue in the Superpole Race caused him to go wide at Turn 4 on the first lap, relegating him to 12th. His struggles continued in Race 2, where a technical issue forced him to retire.

“For me, especially the Superpole Race was not really good at the start. I felt some brake problem, and we are lucky I didn’t hit someone and nobody crashed—this is why I’m happy,” Razgatlioglu said. “For Race 2, we decided to use yesterday’s bike because I felt we were really improving, and the grip was much better than before. But in the race, we saw there was some technical problem, and after, I didn’t continue the race.”

Despite the setbacks, Razgatlioglu remains determined to bounce back. “I’m never starting very happy in the first races of the season. Also last year, and two years ago—always I’m starting very strange, [and] this is the same. But I’m just focused on the next race because finally, we are going to Europe, and I’m just starting to fight with all the Ducatis. We have a long break, almost one month. I will keep working and try to come back stronger.”

The break before the next round will include a crucial two-day test at Portimão, Portugal, on March 14 and 15. Razgatlioglu emphasized the importance of the test for improving his BMW M1000 RR. “We have a test there; we need the test. Two days for me are very important because we are trying to improve the bike, and we are still not 100 percent. But everyone is pushing hard, I know, and we will see because these two days for me are very important.”

The second round of the 2024 WorldSBK season will take place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal, from March 28 to 30. As BMW Motorrad Motorsport analyzes the opening round and prepares for the European leg of the season, can El Turco close the gap to the dominant Ducati riders and reignite the championship battle?