Toprak Razgatlıoglu is Step by Step Towards World Championship
National motorcycle racer Toprak Razgatlıoğlu can announce his second world championship one week before the end of the season at the 11th round of the 2024 World Superbike Championship, which will take place this weekend in Portugal. The penultimate round of the championship will be held at the Estoril Circuit, which is 4.182 kilometers long, from October 11 to 13.
Known worldwide as “El Turco,” Toprak Razgatlıoğlu continues to break records both in his racing career and in the history of the championship. The star racer has seen the checkered flag first a total of 54 times, playing the Turkish National Anthem around the world. This season, he has reached the podium 21 times in Superbike races, securing 15 first-place finishes, 4 second places, and 2 third places.
Born in 1996, Toprak has competed in 216 races during his World Superbike Championship career, celebrating 136 podium finishes. This season, he has set the record for consecutive podium finishes by standing on the top step for the 13th time, surpassing records held by British rival Jonathan Rea and Spanish racer Alvaro Bautista. Toprak also established a new record for consecutive wins in the championship, achieving 13 first-place finishes in a row.
The national athlete also became the first motorcycle racer to achieve three consecutive victories in the races held in Italy, England, Czech Republic, and Portugal this season. Having won the World Superbike Championship with the Yamaha team in 2021, Toprak has achieved podium finishes in 21 out of 24 races this season with the BMW factory team (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK). The successful racer is very close to announcing his second world championship at the 11th round in Portugal this weekend.
39-Point Lead
Currently leading the overall standings with 414 points, Toprak is 39 points ahead of his closest rival, Nicolo Bulega from the Aruba Ducati team. Due to a crash during a free practice session before the 8th round in France, he could not participate in the 9th round held in Italy on September 20-22.
After taking a break due to injury, Toprak returned to the World Superbike Championship at the 10th round held at MotorLand Aragon in Spain from September 27-29. In Aragon, he finished second in all three races, extending his points lead in the riders’ standings.
Despite missing the races in France and Italy, Toprak remains in first place in the overall standings with 414 points. His closest rival, Nicolo Bulega from Aruba Ducati, is in second place with 375 points, while Ducati’s Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista is in third with 333 points.
In the World Superbike Championship, the winner of the main races earns 25 points, the second-place finisher gets 20 points, and the third place earns 16 points, while in the superpole, the first place earns 12 points, the second place 9 points, and the third place 7 points.
If the crescent-starred racer increases his points lead over Nicolo Bulega to 63 points or more this weekend in Estoril, he will announce his second world championship.
BMW is After Its First Championship
Having won his first World Superbike Championship with the Yamaha team in the 2021 season, Toprak signed with BMW for the 2024 World Superbike season. There has been great curiosity among motorcycle enthusiasts regarding what Toprak will do with BMW after Yamaha. As he prepares to celebrate his second championship, the BMW team is also aiming to clinch its first championship title.
The 11th round of the World Superbike Championship will take place in Estoril (Portugal) from October 11 to 13, while the 12th and final round races will be held in Jerez (Spain) from October 18 to 20.
