Toprak Razgatlioglu experienced a crash during his first MotoGP race at the Thai Grand Prix sprint, which he attributes to a persistent engine braking issue from the very beginning of the event. The Turkish rider, a three-time World Superbike champion, competed for the first time in MotoGP on Saturday in Buriram but suffered difficulties that affected his performance.
Starting from the seventh row of the grid, Razgatlioglu was not expected to earn points in the 13-lap sprint. Despite this, he was closely following his Pramac teammate Jack Miller, who ultimately finished 15th. However, at the end of lap 11, Razgatlioglu lost control on the final corner and crashed his Yamaha. He managed to rejoin the race and completed it in 20th place, finishing just ahead of Michele Pirro, who was standing in for Gresini Racing.
Challenges in the Opening Laps
Razgatlioglu revealed that the first lap presented immediate challenges related to the bike’s braking system.
“The beginning was not bad, especially when we are starting,”
he said. “When we came to the first corner, I saw Jack brake a little bit early, and after I used the brake directly, because I don’t know if the carbon brake is warmed up or not.
“I’m really scared in the first corner. But after I was just trying to adapt because everyone tries their best in that corner.”
He described adjusting to the race pace by closely following Miller, analyzing different sections of the track to find where he could be faster or needed to improve. Despite this, the issue with engine braking persisted, especially in the last corner where he noticed a difference in handling compared to Miller’s setup. He said, “I had from the beginning a problem with the engine brake in the last corner.
“Normally, we used the same map, but I felt a difference on the last corner. And on the first lap, I almost crashed there on the brakes. I felt the front lock two times and I went wide.”
Final Laps and the Crash Incident
Throughout the race, Razgatlioglu attempted to adapt to the braking difficulties, particularly on the final corner. He explained that he was pushing harder in the last three laps to close the gap behind Miller and prepare for an overtaking move, which involved braking slightly later.
“Everything was perfect until I started to lean, because I felt the first locking,”
he said.
“But the problem was when I leaned more, the rear came back quickly, and I lost the front.”
This loss of control caused him to crash on lap 11, ending his race prematurely.
Impact on Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP Journey
This challenging debut highlighted the steep learning curve Toprak Razgatlioglu faces as he transitions from World Superbike to MotoGP. Despite the crash, finishing the race allowed him to gather essential experience on unfamiliar machinery and track conditions. Competing alongside established riders like Jack Miller and riding for the Pramac team, Razgatlioglu’s initial trial underscores the technical and physical demands of MotoGP racing.
Moving forward, addressing the braking setup and gaining confidence with the bike will be vital for Razgatlioglu to improve his competitiveness in future races. His adaptation to the high-speed environment in Buriram sets the stage for growth as he continues his rookie season in the premier class.
