Toprak Razgatlioglu makes “really big step” in MotoGP but one key weakness remains

Pramac rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu made a breakthrough in cornering at the Barcelona MotoGP test, but is still struggling to extract peak one-lap performance from Michelin’s soft tyre.

The three-time World Superbike champion has claimed two points-scoring finishes in his nascent grand prix career so far, with a 15th place in the US GP followed by 13th at Le Mans. 

He also secured direct entry into Q2 in only his second race weekend at Goiania, but has found qualifying more difficult lately. At last weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix, he ended up at the bottom of the grid after crashing in Q1.

On Monday, he took advantage of the extra track time in Barcelona to gain valuable mileage on the Michelin rubber. He made the biggest gains on corner entry with the medium tyre, which also improved his ability to turn the bike and accelerate out of the turns.

However, his pace remained stagnant when he switched to the soft tyre for a time attack, leaving him 19th and last on the timesheets.

“I'm happy because we improved a lot, especially with the medium tyre,” Razgatlioglu explained. “We made a really big step, especially with the corner entry. I feel the bike is turning a little bit better. Acceleration is also easy because by turning [better], I pick up [speed] more early.

“It's very good, very consistent lap times. But when I put on the soft tyre for a better lap time, I did the same lap time. 

“The biggest problem with the soft tyre is more grip and the ‘pushing’. But I'm not able to keep the corner speed like [I am able to do] with the medium. Because I checked Fabio [Quartararo’s] data. With the soft tyre, he takes more corner speed.”

Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP results so far

Razgatlioglu believes this soft tyre weakness ultimately comes down to his muscle memory from WSBK. This problem is exacerbated at European tracks that he knows intimately from his time in superbikes, making it hard for him to adapt his riding style.

“When I spoke with my crew chief, Alberto [Giribuola], he also said this is true,” he revealed. “When I put on the soft tyre, immediately my mind is changed. I'm riding a little bit like a superbike style.

I'm always asking for the grip at the exit. Because with this Michelin tyre, you need to keep more corner speed and open the throttle slowly. But I'm riding in the opposite way, just turning, picking up, opening more because I try to have more acceleration.

“I need to change the riding style a little bit with the soft tyre because this is very important in qualifying. If you do a good lap time and you start at the front, you always stay with the front group. But when you start at the back, it is not easy to go to the front.

“I'm happy with the Michelin tyre, but because we were very close with the other Yamahas. But we need to improve more with the soft tyre because qualifying is very important. Sometimes, I forget to keep the corner speed with the soft tyre.”

After the opening six rounds, Razgatlioglu sits 22nd in the championship, ahead of his team-mate Jack Miller but behind factory Yamaha duo Quartararo and Alex Rins.

The 29-year-old is hoping to carry the momentum from the Barcelona test into next week’s Italian GP at Mugello.

“I hope we keep this performance like in Mugello,” he said. “Because in Mugello, you need more corner speed, whereas we don't need [a lot of] braking. 

“Fabio is always very strong there. I need to follow Fabio immediately in the first session.”