Garrett Gerloff has expressed his utmost remorse for the controversial incident that eliminated his title-contending Yamaha stablemate Toprak Razgatlioglu and cost him significant ground in his 2021 WorldSBK title fight with Jonathan Rea.
The American was attempting to carry the momentum of a strong start from the third row when he speared his GRT Yamaha up the inside of Razgatlioglu, who dipped for the apex unaware of his team-mate’s unconventional line alongside.
The ensuing contact would send Razgatlioglu sliding off into his first DNF of the season which, coupled with Jonathan Rea’s third win of the weekend, means a gap that stood at two points in his sway at the start of the weekend, ended at a deficit of 37 points.
With the Turk directing his ire at Gerloff for his ‘stupid mistake’, the sophomore rider himself could only apologise to both his counterpart and Yamaha itself, not least because this is arguably its closest shot at a WorldSBK title since Ben Spies’ win in 2009.
“I got a good start from the third row of the grid, I felt the contact in turn one, but I didn't realise it was Toprak until I looked back.
"I'm sorry for him, as he paid a big price for my mistake, but also for Yamaha, who have worked tirelessly to mount a championship challenge.
"I can only apologise to both, although I am well aware that this won't change the outcome."
It isn’t the first high profile accident committed by Gerloff this season, with other incidents - such as his coming together with Jonathan Rea in Aragon and Michael Ruben Rinaldi in Estoril - raising unwelcome attention in his direction.
