Indonesia WorldSBK: Razgatlioglu ‘feeling very good’ after dominating day one

Toprak Razgatlioglu dominates both WorldSBK free practice sessions at the all-new Mandalika circuit in what could be a history-making weekend for the Turkish rider.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Indonesian WorldSBK 2021
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Indonesian WorldSBK 2021
© Gold and Goose

Toprak Razgatlioglu thoroughly dominated day-one of WorldSBK action in 𒈔Mandalika in what could be a history-making weekend for the ꦜYamaha rider. 

Razgatlioglu goes into tomorrow’s race one with a chance at claiming the 2021 Worl♛dSBK title, and should he take the championship will become the first ever Turkish premier class champion. 

While winning the title could conceivably happen during race one thanks to having a comfortable 30 point lead over Jonathan Rea, The Pata Yamaha rider will not clinch the title just by winning the race🦩, instead he would need other results that are out of his control to go his way, therefore making it much more likely that the title is won on Sunday.

But whether Razgatlioglu wins the ti൲tle on Saturday, Sunday or not at ꦍall should Rea make an astonishing, but unlikely comeback, the weekend couldn’t have started any better for Razgatlioglu as he dominated both practice sessions.

During dusty FP1 conditions, Razgatlioglu adapt๊ed to the new Mandalika circuit better than anyone to eventually finish 1.5 second clear of Alex Lowes. 

That margin was just under two tenths in FP2 as Rea managed to claw his way back towards the Yamaha rider, however, Razgatlioglu was st𒀰ill faster than anyone on the race runs. 

"Today we start very fast! Also, I’m feeling very good and I like this track, it is fun to ꦓride,"💎 said Razgatlioglu. 

"I’m very happy for this last race of the year also because Indones💧ia is a Muslim country and the feeling is a little like home, I’m really happy fo🔯r this! 

"Now, I’m feeling that ꦑwe are ready to race, but൩ we will see tomorrow, I will try again, I’m fighting again. 

"We will see, everybody is fast, everybody improves an🦹d they will also try their best, but tomorrow we only try to win."

Razgatlioglu’s team-mate Andrea Locatelli also enj𒁃oyed a good start after finishing P8 overall. The Italian was as high as second after being towed around by Razgatlioglu late on. 

Locatelli added: "In th♋e end, it’s b𝓀een like a normal Friday. The feeling is coming a little bit more in Free Practice 2, so it’s not so bad. 

"I need to understand what to do on the bike and where I need to improve on the track. For sure 🔴tomorrow we will make a step. 

"I hope it’s dry෴, we are ready and I’m sure if we can improve a little bit we can stay at the front. 

"I have more of an idea now, because I ride a little bit more in FP2 and understand where to improve, so tomorrow we will try t🐭o get the maximum."

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