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There were several doubts regarding Toprak Razgatlioglu's move to BMW, but the Turkish rider only needed two rounds to silence the skeptics, wtih two wins and two third places on the M 1000 RR, between Barcelona and Phillip Island. A merciless comparison with Scott Redding's results, who reached the podium only twice in his entire two years as a ROKiT BMW Motorrad team rider.
Not even a move to a more welcoming and familiar team, such as Bonovo Action, has helped the Scott to climb back to the top again during this start of the championship, during which has struggled and was out of the Top 10 even in Catalunya, right on the very track where Razgatlioglu gave the German constructor the coveted success it hadn't had since 2021.
"It was a difficult weekend but, then again, we expected it. We have the same problems, even if the bike has improved," Redding confessed in an interview with to Motorsport-Total.com. "What Toprak and van der Mark demonstrated is great, but it was a shock for me. I would've bet everything on Toprak winning, but not in Barcelona. I take my hat off to him."
Toprak's performance at Montmeló, and his masterful tire management on a demanding track like the Catalan one, totally impressed the 31-year-old, who's convinced that he has much to learn from the Turkish rider's data.
"He definitely has more margin when braking. I can't brake like he does in every lap. And, when I use his braking points, my bike doesn't slow down like his. We have to better understand his set-up," Scott noted. "What impressed me most was the way he safeguards his tires. With his riding style, he preserves his tires, because he doesn't have to accelerate as much coming out of corners, whereas I have to, because I'm not as good. What he's done is impressive."
The excellent results achieved by Razgatlioglu, as well as the competitiveness shown by van der Mark, are proof of the progress the M 1000 RR made during the winter. These are all signs that can only give Redding even more confidence as he heads into the upcoming championship rounds.
"I think Toprak is a better rider than me. He has more natural talent. But that doesn't mean I can't beat him. After some difficult years, I havve to shake off my habits and get back to riding like Scott Redding," said the BMW rider, who's convinced he can get good results on circuits that are more congenial to him than the Catalan one. "My goal is always to finish in the top five, or the top three. I'm not that far away, also considering that Barcelona is the most difficult track for me. From Assen onward, it should be much better."
