MotoGP legend Andrea Dovizioso has high hopes for Toprak Razgatlioglu after switching to BMW and hopes that Jonathan Rea will harmonize well with the Yamaha
After the exciting finale of the 2023 Superbike World Championship, two of the top three riders switched manufacturers. World Champion Alvaro Bautista will continue to ride a Ducati Panigale V4R in 2024. Vice-champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, on the other hand, will swap his Yamaha R1 for a BMW M1000RR and long-time Kawasaki rider Jonathan Rea has already tested the factory Yamaha
The big question is how the changes made by Razgatlioglu and Rea will affect the balance of power in WSBK. Rea got on well with the Yamaha at the first test, but has not yet set any best times. Razgatlioglu will not be able to test the BMW until December because he was unable to agree a deal with Yamaha to test for his new employer.
MotoGP legend Andrea Dovizioso can well imagine that Razgatlioglu is also strong on the BMW Superbike: “At BMW, Toprak can change the situation within two years and be competitive with the BMW.”
“Toprak found himself in a comfortable situation at Yamaha. But he had to change because he needed a bit more support,” Dovizioso told ‘WorldSBK.com’, showing understanding for the Turk’s change of brand.
“I’m not sure if the BMW is good enough for him to fight for the championship. But they have a good structure to make a difference. I don’t know if it will work. We’ll see in the future. But the change is good for everyone,” said “Dovi.”
Andrea Dovizioso hopes that Jonathan Rea is successful at Yamaha
A new chapter began for record-breaking world champion Jonathan Rea after the season finale. After nine years as a Kawasaki rider, the six-time champion switched to the Yamaha camp and gained his first experience with the R1 in Jerez.
“I hope that Rea gets on well with the Yamaha,” commented Dovizioso. “But I can’t say how meaningful the test in Jerez was, because the Yamaha worked well at the race weekend on this track. “
“You need to test the bike on another track to see the true potential. But Yamaha will have to work hard to make a step forward in the battle against Ducati,” warns Dovizioso.
Dovizioso understands why Rea is looking for a new challenge after nine years with Kawasaki. “The change was necessary because there was not a good atmosphere between Rea and Kawasaki at the end,” he recognizes.
“I can’t judge how good the bike is,” muses Dovizioso. “My feeling is that it’s not as good as it was in the past when Rea was fighting for championships. That’s why he needed a change. “
Alvaro Bautista vs. Toprak Razgatlioglu: The duel of opposites
As in the previous year, the season just ended came down to a duel between Bautista and Razgatlioglu. At the two final WSBK events, the two exceptional riders battled it out in spectacular fashion, thrilling many fans
“It was quite strange to see two such different riders battling it out,” marveled Dovizioso. “Their bikes were very different. But so were their riding styles. Their duel felt very strange to me. It was a duel between two very big talents. It was beautiful.”
“I’m happy for Alvaro because I know him very well. I know how good he is. With his riding style, he was one of the best riders in MotoGP,” recalls the Italian. “I never raced against Toprak myself, but I think he is very talented. I like him as a person, but I don’t know much about him. But I was able to talk to him and he seems like a nice guy. “