Neil Hodgson felt Torak Razgatlioglu received a terrible qualification for the Catalan Grand Prix, struggling with how the front Michelin tire would hold up on a cold track.
Razgatlioglu He announced the worst qualifying performance in his rookie MotoGP career so far in Barcelona Pramak Star recorded the slowest lap time of the Yamaha YZR-M1 Q1 season. The 29-year-old suffered a late crash, which kept him in last place.
Three-time World Superbike champion Razgatlioglu only set a personal best lap of 1:42.945 during Q1. He was 4.395 seconds adrift in P2 in the VR46 of Franco Morbidelli aboard Aprilia ace Jorge Martin.
Even Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez set a faster lap time than Razgatlioglu did during Q1. Factory Yamaha Rider Alex Rins recorded a 1:39.280 lap in Q1 with another YZR-M1.
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Neil Hodgson has blamed Torak Razgatlioglu for his failure to qualify at Barcelona on learning Michelin tyres.
Hodgson felt Razgatlioglu’s woes this season. Qualifying for the Catalan GP as Pedro Acosta took pole With the KTM it was simply to the point where the front Michelin tire didn’t know how to handle it on a cold road. He definitely believes that the tire was the cause of Razgatlioglu’s downfall.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname
Razgatlioglu was one of three riders to crash on the same track at Turn 5 during Q1, with Aprilia’s Jorge Martin and Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer also crashing early on braking into the steep left-hand bend. “Toprak has a session to forget,” Hodgson was quick to say after the accident.
“Here’s the breakdown of Toprak,” Hodgson said. TNT Sports 2 (16/05, 10:09) After seeing Razgatlioglu’s failure replayed in the 5th round of qualifying. “This will be a locked face. There you go.
“So think about it, you’re looking at Toprak, right?[He’s]one of the most talented riders I’ve ever seen, a rider who rides beyond the limit in World Superbikes and doesn’t crash. He (always) feels the front tire.”
“But a cold track from A Michelin Rubber, that’s what happens. The braking will lock up and you will go down. It looks like you’re riding in the wet.
If Toprak Razgatlioglu wins the MotoGP title, where will he rank among the greats of motorcycle racing?
He already has three World Superbike crowns
Pramac ace Razgatlioglu locked up at the front as he braked for Turn 5 late in Q1 at the Catalan GP on Saturday. The incident caused him to spin a front tire, which sent him into the front-left circuit before landing in the gravel trap to end the session early.
After moving from World Superbikes this year, Razgatlioglu qualified for the premier class Grand Prix for the first time in his fledgling MotoGP career. He still only made Q2 in Brazil when the Alanya native was quickly caught in the rain during practice.
Pramac Group Principal Paolo Campani is convinced. Razgatlioglu’s “qualities” will “come to the fore” in MotoGP Soon he was no ordinary rider. But after racing on Pirelli tires during his career in World Superbikes, learning Michelin tires is proving challenging.
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