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The ROKiT BMW Motorrad team's 2024 season ended in the best possible way. After winning the title on Saturday in Race 1, Toprak Razgatlioglu found success again in the last race of the year. In which it was his teammate and friend, Michael van der Mark, who completed the podium, facilitated by the red flag that ended proceedings four laps early.
"Overall, I'm happy. If they hadn't shown the red flag, I would have increased my margin over Bulega, because I had a good feeling with the bike," said Toprak, talking about his race. "My main problem was the front tire wear, but I did a few laps a bit slower in the race and then I went back to pushing and saw the gap immediately open up again. I was focused on the last four laps, but then I saw the red flag and it was all over. I'm happy to be back winning."
A declaration that came after picking up two second places behind Bulega.
"Yesterday's was not an easy race for me, and I made second place be enough since I didn't need to win. This morning, however, I really pushed hard, but so did Bulega, who had a great pace. Then the tire started to drop and I had to fight for the runner-up slot - El Turco recounted - In the last race, I used the same tires as Nicolò and my goal was to battle with him for the win. I had good sensations and in the last laps I realized I could win, because Bulega was getting closer, but he didn't attack me and I was back to pushing. Anyway, I'm happy to be back winning after winning the title. And also for van der Mark and the team: we dreamed of sharing the podium and in the last race we finally did it. It is very important to have done it before the season is over."
With the curtain down on 2024, one can only begin to think about next year. Who does Razgatlioglu think will be his main opponent between Bulega and Bautista?
"Nicolo is very strong, especially on this track. As for Alvaro, I don't know. He seems to be a bit down this year, but I hope he will be back to being strong next season and we will resume fighting like we have in the last two years. Anyway, I think about my team: we will try to improve the bike to be even stronger in 2025," commented the BMW rider. "I hope to fight for the title together with van der Mark next year. It is our and the team's dream. He is getting stronger, he improved after the accident, and now he is starting to understand the bike better, especially the tires. I am happy to work with him. He is my best teammate in Superbike and I hope we will fight together for more podiums."
Toprak is clear on the areas where he will need to focus this winter to return to action even stronger.
"The grip and stopping the bike. Our power is not bad. Our bike is much more powerful than the Yamaha, which I rode before," he noted, "BMW however does not stop even though we won the title. Our speed is not a problem, although Ducati is a little bit faster than BMW, but I think if we can make progress with electronics and grip, we will be even stronger next year. We are all working together and I think we will succeed."
Van der Mark: "I don't know if I would have finished on the podium without the red flag."
It is a third place with a special flavor the one picked up at Jerez by Michael van der Mark, whose season finale was shaken by the death of his mother.
"It was definitely a tough two weeks. It was tough, and I couldn't have done it without my partner and the team. They put no pressure on me at Estoril, letting me do whatever I wanted, and in the end we had a good weekend. Here I struggled a bit at the beginning, but the team was great and we improved step by step. My goal coming here to Jerez was to finish sixth in the World Championship," recounted the Dutch rider.
"This morning I was close to Locatelli and this afternoon I was aiming to at least beat both him and Iannone. I made a good start, I had a good pace, and after passing Locatelli I tried to push as hard as I could, even though I didn't really feel at my best with the bike ," he continued, "I struggled a lot in the final, Iannone was getting closer, and I was really happy to have seen the red flag at the end, because I didn't know if I would have been able to maintain third position otherwise."
An assist that allowed Mickey to end this year on a high note.
"It is a dream to end the season with a podium, especially with Toprak. It was a great year for him and I, as he said, made progress. I love working with him, we help each other and we have grown a lot. The whole BMW team has been working together this year, because that's the only way we can make strides in a grid as competitive as Superbike," van der Mark noted, before talking more specifically about the areas in which they need to improve ahead of 2025.
"They are all improving, so we have to try to make small progress in each area. We seem to have a good package now, but you can't stand still in racing - we have to keep making steps forward, in terms of power, grip, and in stopping the bike," he said. "BMW is working so hard on all aspects, because we won the title, but we still have to improve as everyone does. I think having two fewer bikes will not make a big difference. Now we have a good base."
The BMW rider then concluded by explaining what happened in the attempt to overtake Andrea Iannone, in which the Abruzzo rider risked ending up on the ground.
"We were fighting for sixth place in the World Championship. The last corner was a point where I was very strong and I heard he was coming. I saw him when he tried to pass me, but these are things that happen when you are in a fight," he commented, "Fortunately, he managed to stay on the bike. It would have been bad if the battle for sixth place had ended with a crash. He then had a chance to catch up, and I was lucky that there was a red flag."
