Axel Bassani hailed the reigning WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu as “one of the worst” riders to overtake after their battle in Race 2 at Assen.
The Bimota rider clinched fifth position in Race 2, producing his best result for the team since it entered the series earlier this year.
Despite retiring in Race 1 and failing to score points in the wet Superpole Race, Bassani expressed growing confidence aboard the KB998 Rimini.
Bassani’s confidence was boosted in part by a hard-fought overtake on Razgatlioglu, comparing him to MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez.
“I was faster than Toprak [Razgatlioglu]. I saw he was in trouble,” Bassani told media including Motorsport Week.
“Especially so when he was going on the throttle, he was losing the front along, but it was difficult to overtake him because he’s always breaking really hard on the straight, it was much faster than me.
“So immediately when he did a little mistakes and turned eight, I think, or nine, sorry, I overtake him, but was not easy.”
“Also he was on travel but was not easy to overtake him. He’s always Toprak. He’s always one of the worst guy to overtake.
“I always say, for me, Toprak is always the best rider at the moment on track. Sure, last year, BMW is not the same. He has some problem, but Toprak is Toprak.
“He can put something like Marc Marquez you know. He also, the bike is not working, he puts something more.”
