‘Disappointed’ Sofuoglu’s blunt assessment of Razgatlioglu WorldSBK start

Kenan Sofuoglu has delivered a blunt assessment of Toprak Razgatlioglu’s indifferent start to his WorldSBK Championship title defence after struggling to challenge for victory in the opening two rounds of the season.

Coming into the 2022 WorldSBK campaign looking to consolidate his status as reigning champion, thus far Razgatlioglu hasn’t had the measure of 2021 foe Jonathan Rea on the Kawasaki and revitalised Ducati rival Alvaro Bautista.

Despite two pole positions, Razgatlioglu had to settle for a run of third place results in the opening five races before a collision with Rea in the final outing at Assen forced him into a DNF.

Leaving him 45 points shy of the top spot held by Bautista, while Razgatlioglu’s lacklustre start to the year mirrors that of 2021 - before a win during Round 3 at Misano transformed his year - his manager and mentor Sofuoglu admits he has been disappointed with the results so far.

“I can’t say we started the season as we wanted or as we expected,” the five-time WorldSSP Champion said. “We are a little bit disappointed. Honestly, we sat together with Toprak, and we checked what we do, what we’ve done and the way of every single part of our life, training and mentality. I think we were not correct, and Toprak decided to make some changes.

“In general, every single practice, way of living, way of mentality, and I believe we will have a different Toprak at Estoril.

“I will be there to support especially Toprak because we have to win. There’s been six races and still he couldn’t win anything, and he is World Champion, we have to win. Now, we are building very well for the next round.”