The Brazilian weekend proved to be another challenging episode for Toprak Razgatlioglu in his MotoGP journey, as he once again left the circuit empty-handed in terms of points. After securing a spot in Q2 and starting from the twelfth position on the grid, the Turkish rider faced a relentless struggle with the persistent lack of grip on the rear of his Yamaha M1 during the race. This struggle saw him slip back to seventeenth place, just one spot away from the bottom of the standings.
The most painful aspect of the race was not just his distance from the leaders—over 30 seconds—but rather the stark contrast to fellow competitor Fabio Quartararo. Toprak noted that Quartararo had found a significantly more effective way to make his Yamaha work during corner exits. While traction remained a nagging issue, Toprak did acknowledge some improvements in his bike’s handling and entry phase, particularly highlighting advancements in his braking technique. “The Grand Prix went better than the Sprint,” the #07 Pramac rider stated, reflecting on his performance. “However, the grip at the rear feels strange. Other manufacturers seem to have more grip than Yamaha. We tried to improve the situation, but every time I opened the throttle, I lost so much time. I experienced a lot of wheel spin and couldn’t accelerate properly.”
Despite trailing behind Quartararo for several laps, Toprak recognized the differences in performance between their bikes. “When I was behind Fabio, I was really competitive in almost every corner. In some instances, I even managed to close the gap on him. But as soon as we both opened the throttle, he always had a significant advantage. Perhaps he managed his tire better or had a superior setup. In acceleration, he was consistently effective. In corner 12 and the final corner, he always seemed to gain time on me.”
As the race progressed into its final third, Toprak found himself losing even more ground to Quartararo. When asked what happened, he admitted to a mistake. “Yes, I made an error in corner 1, went off-line, and lost contact. From that moment on, I had no reference points and ended up riding alone. I’m not satisfied because I once again finished almost last. However, this weekend taught me valuable lessons about engine braking. Now, I feel more confident in my braking performance. We’ll see how things go in Texas; I’ve never raced there before.”
Toprak also shared his thoughts on the track conditions in Goiania, stating, “It wasn’t just a problem for me, but for everyone. We all raced under the same conditions. I even ended up with a few stones in my boot.” As he prepares for the next race, the lessons learned from Brazil could prove crucial in unlocking his true potential as he aims for a turnaround in his MotoGP career.
