Toprak Razgatlioglu hails "incredible feeling" after Brazil MotoGP practice breakthrough
Toprak Razgatlioglu made the most of a new circuit and tricky weather to secure a shock third in Friday practice for the Brazilian MotoGP - targets “something special again tomorrow.”
MotoGP rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu capitalised on tricky mixed conditions and an unknown circuit to take his Yamaha V4 to the third fastest time in Friday practice for the Brazilian MotoGP.
The achievement also meant the reigning WorldSBK champion, outside the points in 17th on his MotoGP debut in Thailand, has secured a direct place in Saturday’s Qualifying 2 pole-position shootout.
Razgatlioglu faded to a “sad” 16th at the end of a wet morning session but excelled with slick tyres on a damp track in the afternoon, when he was outpaced only by Johann Zarco and reigning champion Marc Marquez.
“This morning, I started not bad, but we didn’t put a new tyre at the end of the session,” Razgatlioglu told TNT Sports. “I'm really sad about this because it was the first time I saw the top six, top five.
“But in the afternoon, again mixed conditions, but this time we used slick tyres. Normally, I like these conditions, also in Superbike.
“I'm really enjoying riding the bike because sometimes you need to use a different line to avoid the wet patches.
“But I was still happy and surprised when I came back to the box and saw I'm in the top three.
“Now I'm just thinking about tomorrow and also Sunday.
“Today is good for me, to be in Q2 is an incredible feeling, but now I’m already focussed on qualifying and race.”
Razgatlioglu agreed that the new circuit put him at less disadvantage against the other MotoGP riders, but felt the weather played more into his hands.
“Yeah, a new track for everyone, I'm quick learning but I think many riders are quick learning because all the MotoGP riders are very professional,” he said.
“I think we made a big difference in these conditions, wet and dry, when we are always strong. We do something different.
“But now we will see in the full wet and full dry. I hope we are can stay there, this is the very important.
“I hope we will do something special tomorrow again.”
Pramac team-mate Jack Miller, the first rider to fit slick tyres in FP1, was also a frontrunner in the afternoon, but lost valuable track time when he crashed at Turn 4 and dropped to twelfth.
Fabio Quartararo was the next best Yamaha V4 rider, in seventh.
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Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
