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Toprak Razgatlioglu, him again! Saturday in Portimao smiled on the BMW rider, who took his 11th consecutive victory. A crowning performance for the Turk, who truly emerged in the second half of the race, attacking and then taking the lead.
Despite Petrucci's attempts, the #54 showed strength and resilience, bringing home a success that launches him ever closer to the world title. For his part, the satisfaction is great. "I think today's was a difficult race for everyone," he began , "in the last 10 laps I found my rhythm, but Petrucci was always close to me. I had a few tenths more margin for the finish, but not much, because I didn't feel like taking risks. So I tried to stay calm and in the end I won, taking a very important victory."
Tomorrow you can go down in history with 12 consecutive wins, something that no one has ever done before.
"Exactly! Tomorrow will be even more important for me than today because there is an incredible milestone."
Toprak, you had to make some changes to the BMW after yesterday's problems, right?
"The bike is similar. Yesterday the biggest problem was that I didn't find the right set-up for the race, as I hardly rode at all. With the used tire, however, I had good feelings. In the afternoon we made some changes that did not work. Therefore we were forced to revise it and eventually we found a direction, but we need to take a step forward."
With Petrucci it was a great battle. Did you expect that?
"When I passed Danilo I pushed 100 percent. I then tried to manage the pace and in the last laps it was not easy, especially because of the consumption of the tire. So we'll see tomorrow what happens knowing that today I gave everything I had."
This time the Ducati you managed to pass it in the straights....
"Yes, but if I won it is not because I pass the Ducati in the straights now. What makes the difference is the last corner, in fact it's very important, because if you have acceleration you can be performing while but if you don't have it it's useless."
How big is the difference from a year ago?
"There is an incredible difference. Now I can corner, I have acceleration and all that on the straight helps. With the other bikes it was worse because if you have a less powerful engine you then tend to slide, but now it's different. The fact is that the BMW doesn't like hot conditions and the soft tire. With the hard tire instead I have better feelings."
Toprak, how come you put the wings on?
"I like them. My plan was to fly into Turn 8, but it's better that the wings keep me on the ground."
There is also talk of the market. Yamaha is apparently interested in Iannone. What do you think and what would you recommend to Andrea?
"I honestly don't know. Maybe he is looking for a good contract. I think Ducati is the right choice for him."
