Reigning World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) was denied a first victory of 2022 again at the Circuito Estoril after losing out in two final lap shoot-outs across the weekend. The 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was a true classic weekend for WorldSBK as all of the main three in the Championship fight duked it out in head-to-head duels with each other on the final laps.

However, for defending Champion Razgatlioglu, he was toppled again, although it may be seen as him beating himself in the Tissot Superpole Race. With a comfortable enough margin going into the final chicane for the final time, Razgatlioglu tucked the front and saved what looked like an impossible save. He picked it up on his elbow, but it was too late, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had already swept by him at Turn 10 and pulled enough of a gap to take the win and hold off the Turk.

Firstly, talking about how he saved the front end at Turn 9 and didn’t bin all of the points, Razgatlioglu said: “We train with Kenan on his karting track, it’s a small track and I’m always losing the front there and I try to pick it up! Only this time, the bike was a bit heavier! I’m always watching Marc Marquez, it’s the same style! I remember 2020 at Jerez, I tried to pick up the bike but I couldn’t, so I had a small crash. However, today I said, ‘I need to pick it up!’ because I’m fighting! I’m very happy, we take good points and second is better than a crash. it was a strange weekend!”

Talking about the weekend overall, Toprak said it was still good: “For me a good race weekend as we are very strong. Race 2, I tried to fight for the win but after 10 laps, a big drop in the rear tyre and I started sliding a lot, especially in the final corner. I tried my best in all the races. Sometimes, we need luck, especially in the first race when on the straight, the Ducati passed me. In the Superpole Race, my small mistake means I almost crashed. Sometimes, I see the chequered flag and it’s not possible to see it first. We take good points in the Championship, and I hope at Misano, we’re fighting for the win.”

Razgatlioglu has been on the podium eight times in the nine races so far in 2022, with three second places in the last five. However, the costly DNF at Assen and not being able to pinch a victory at one of his strongest tracks means that he is 52 points adrift of Championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). The 25-year-old is now level with James Toseland and Pierfrancesco Chili for podiums in the 12^th all-time placing in the rankings, 61 each. He also maintained his 100% podium record at Estoril, the only rider to have this in WorldSBK at the circuit.

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