Toprak Razgatlioglu Isn’t Counting on Luck — He’s Racing for It
Toprak Razgatlioglu knows the odds are stacked against him in Estoril. His WorldSBK title hopes are hanging by a thread — so slim, in fact, that he admits he isn’t even thinking about them. Instead, the Turkish rider is setting his sights on something simpler but far more satisfying: winning races on his own terms.
Heading into the Estoril weekend (October 10–12), Razgatlioglu would need Nicolo Bulega to stumble — quite literally. For Toprak to clinch the title before the final showdown in Jerez (October 17–19), Bulega must endure at least one race with no points. It’s a tall order, and both riders know it.
Since the Cremona round earlier in the season, the pair have occupied the top two spots in every single race they’ve both finished — except for that one slip at Balaton, when Bulega gambled on the wrong tire and slipped outside the top 10. To pull off a miracle, Razgatlioglu must outscore Bulega by a massive 36 points this weekend. A number that makes even the most optimistic fan pause.
Yet, despite the math, Toprak isn’t fazed. He’s treating this penultimate round just like any other — with focus, calm, and fire in his riding.
“Everyone is talking about this,” he said to WorldSBK.com when asked about his Estoril title chances. “But right now, everybody’s focused on Nicolo because it’s motorsport — anything can happen. But that goes for me too. If I make a mistake or something happens to my bike, it’s the same story. So why would I wait for bad luck to strike him?”
It’s a bold mindset that perfectly fits Toprak’s character. He refuses to race hoping someone else fails. Instead, he emphasizes the purity of the battle itself: riding hard, dueling wheel-to-wheel, and winning outright. “I’m just focused on my job,” he explained. “I want to fight, to battle, to win races. For me, that’s the clearest goal.”
He knows Bulega’s quick. He respects it. And that’s what keeps the rivalry compelling. “Nico is always fast,” he said. “This weekend we’ll see who’s stronger. I’ll do my best, and I’m sure he’ll do the same. I just hope the fans get another great race to watch.”
Still, there’s no denying that sealing the title early would bring relief. Razgatlioglu admits that heading into Jerez with the championship already secured would make him “a little bit more calm.” But that calm only comes if he achieves the near impossible — a clean sweep of all three races in Estoril. “Last year I missed the hat trick,” he recalled. “This weekend, that’s my big goal. I want that hat trick.”
And the sting of 2024 still lingers. In last year’s Superpole Race, Bulega snatched victory from Toprak’s hands, blasting past him out of the final corner — déjà vu of when Alvaro Bautista did the same in 2022’s Race 2. “I never forget that race,” he said with a half-smile. “He had better acceleration because he used the qualifying tire. I didn’t expect him to still have that much grip at the end, and I was shocked when I finished second. That one stuck with me.”
But this weekend, he’s coming armed with lessons learned — and a little extra determination. “He’ll be pushing at 100%, and so will I,” Toprak promised. “It’s going to be exciting for everyone.”
But here’s the question — can pure grit overcome the math? Or will Estoril simply set the stage for a final showdown in Jerez? Let’s hear it: are you backing Toprak’s fighting spirit or Bulega’s consistency? Drop your take below — because this title fight is far from over.
