It got here all the way down to the ultimate race of the 2021 World Superbike Championship (WSBK) race in Indonesia however Toprak Razgatlioglu takes the world champion’s crown. Driving a Yamaha YZR-M1 for Pata Yamaha, Razgatlioglu got here to the model new at Mandalika Worldwide Road Circuit with a 30 level benefit over Kawasaki Racing Staff’s Jonathan Rea, the 2 having had an intense rivalry throughout the season.
Seven time WSBK champion Rea had his profitable streak disrupted by Razgatlioglu, who turns into Turkey’s first ever world champion in two-wheeled motorsport. This was regardless of Rea profitable each rain-shortenedd races on the weekend, ending with 551 factors within the rider’s championship to Razgatlioglu’s 564.
Razgatlioglu’s victory additionally offers Yamaha the WSBK Producer’s title and race staff Brixx WorldSBK the Staff title. In the course of the course of the 2021 WSBK season, Razgatlioglu clocked 13 race wins, 29 podium locations and three pole positions.
This marks the return of Yamaha to the WSBK champion’s desk, with the final rider to win a superbike championship being Ben Spies in 2009. In the meantime, Razgatlioglu’s staff mate, Andrea Locatelli, took the Rookie of the 12 months award with fourth within the WSBK rider’s standings.
With Razgatlioglu’s victory, 2021 marks a 12 months the place Yamaha riders have gained each the MotoGP and the WSBK titles with Fabio Quartararo topped MotoGP world champion in Misano, Italy, two races earlier than the top of the season.
Given the nickname “El Turco” or “The Turk” by Argentinian race followers, Razgatlioglu hails from the coastal city of Alanya, Turkey and made his championship debut in 2014 campaigning within the European Superstock 600 Championship. Razgatlioglu is a training Muslim and refrains from spraying the customary podium Prosecco, praying earlier than races and on the grid.
