This 12 months marks a decade for the reason that starting of Jonathan Rea’s dominance of the World Superbike Championship, and the collection’ present standout rider, Toprak Razgatlioglu, faces the opportunity of being left with the identical unanswered query because the earlier decade’s dominant power.
That, after all, regards MotoGP. When Rea was racking up a file 119 victories in WorldSBK through the mid-to-late-2010s, he was the first candidate for a MotoGP change from the manufacturing spinoff collection.
He would’ve adopted the just lately laid footsteps of the likes of Ben Spies and Cal Crutchlow in transferring from manufacturing to prototype racing, however in some way it by no means occurred.
A mix of age (Rea was 30 by the point he’d gained his third title) and the absence of his Superbike producer, Kawasaki, from the grand prix scene meant the Northern Irish rider might by no means discover a method throughout to the MotoGP grid that would’ve given him a good likelihood of combating on the entrance.
Now, Razgatlioglu, who turns 29 in October, faces the same scenario: he’s approaching 30, and, like Kawasaki, BMW doesn’t compete in MotoGP – even when it began subsequent 12 months or in 2027, it might be some time earlier than it might compete in opposition to the likes of Ducati for race wins and titles.
Toprak Razgatlioglu set to do what Jonathan Rea didn’t do
Momentum does look like gathering behind a Pramac Yamaha transfer for Razgatlioglu, however have been it to not occur, Razgatlioglu’s profession would absolutely finish with the query mark over the efficiency and outcomes he might’ve achieved in motorbike racing’s premier class.
“A bit like Jonathan Rea,” TNT Sports activities MotoGP knowledgeable Hodgson mentioned on the prospect of Razgatlioglu ending his profession having not moved to MotoGP when talking to Crash.internet on Friday on the British Grand Prix.
“Jonathan, in his prime, was such a particular expertise – in his absolute prime. Clearly, he gained six world titles.
“I feel if Jonathan had come right here in the midst of that, he would’ve been round Cal Crutchlow’s velocity – so would’ve gained races, would’ve been on a great deal of podiums.
“Then the argument is: what would he quite have achieved? Would he quite have been an absolute legend in World Superbike, or come and [been a podium contending rider in MotoGP] – as a result of I don’t assume he’d have overwhelmed Marc [Marquez] in his prime.
“It’s troublesome to know what’s the precise reply. He’s received clearly a load of cash within the financial institution, and 6 world titles – he’s doing fairly effectively.”
If Razgatlioglu have been to go to MotoGP, Hodgson is not less than positive that his expertise can be sufficient to deliver him to competitiveness.
“I’d like to see him [Razgatlioglu] are available, I’m such a fan,” Hodgson mentioned.
“I watched all of the Superbike races [at Most] and also you take a look at Toprak [Razgatlioglu] profitable and then you definitely look the place Michael van der Mark is – who I’m an enormous fan of, van der Mark is just not sluggish in any respect and totally dedicated; I promise you, van der Mark’s not being lazy, he’s not simply using round, he’s giving it every thing, and he’s just about a second-a-lap slower than his teammate. It’s loopy.
“No matter it takes, I’d simply like to see him within the paddock.”
Though Razgatlioglu is presently trailing Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega within the 2025 WorldSBK standings, Hodgson’s fellow TNT Sports activities MotoGP knowledgeable Michael Laverty agreed with Hodgson that, as Rea was 10 years in the past, it’s Razgatlioglu now who’s the standout rider in World Superbike.
“I’m a fan of Bulega however I’m not as aggravated if he doesn’t get that chance [to go to MotoGP],” Laverty mentioned.
“He’ll get to strive it as a result of Ducati will give him a possibility.
“I feel Bulega is a formidable expertise on that bike, with that package deal.
“You possibly can’t actually examine him and Toprak [Razgatlioglu] proper now. Toprak is the standout rider in World Superbike.”
