One MotoGP Hall of Famer praises Toprak Razaglioglu’s “crazy” 2024 title-winning WorldSBK season.
The Turkish rider dominated throughout the season in unprecedented fashion after switching to BMW, a manufacturer that had struggled in previous seasons.
Razaglioglu’s ambitious move paid off. The partnership led to 18 victories, and he became the third rider in WorldSBK history to win two world titles with two different manufacturers.
In 2025, the 28-year-old will look to become only the fourth rider to reach three titles in the series, equalling the Australian Troy Bayliss, before setting his sights on the achievements of the British duo of Carl Fogarty and Jonathan Rea.
MotoGP Hall of Famer Andrea Dovizioso discusses Toprak Razaglioglu’s achievements
“I always follow every race,” Dovizioso told WorldSBK.com. “Even if I’m not [watching] live I record everything because I want to see everything.”
“Toprak [Razgatlioglu] and BMW did something special and crazy.
“For sure, BMW improved, but I think Toprak showed how strong he is, how fast he is, because last year with Yamaha he did something really good, and this year with BMW again. So, it was nice to see him in that level with a different brand.
“I think Toprak and BMW now will become even stronger next year, so for their competitors it will be a bit difficult. But, anyway, the battles at the front are always really good.”
Andrea Dovizioso expresses sympathy for former champion Alvaro Bautista
The 15-time MotoGP race winner expressed his sympathy for his former rival Alvaro Bautista after the changes made to weight on the bikes.
For the 2024 season, WorldSBK introduced ballast to the bikes depending on how much lighter they were than the reference weight, which was set at 80kg.
Bautista went from a 27-win race season in 2023 to winning only four times in 2024 and the former 125cc champion believes that the changes hindered him.
“I know Alvaro [Bautista] is struggling with the weight, that’s very bad because I know him very well, how good he is, his riding style, his mentality, he is a champion,” Dovizioso said.
“I would like to see him like before without the weight, but I don’t think it will be like this.”
On the other side of the Ducati garage, however, Dovizioso applauded Nicolo Bulega after his step up to the factory team in his debut year.
“It was really nice to see [Nicolo] Bulega that competitive in his first year of World Superbike.”
