Toprak Razgatlioglu becomes 2024 WorldSBK Champion in record-breaking season

Spread the love

Turkish rider secures his second World Superbike title, the first with BMW

Toprak Razgatlioglu has achieved a monumental feat by securing the 2024 World Superbike Championship in his debut season with BMW, marking a significant milestone for both himself and the manufacturer. The newly crowned 2024 Champion claimed the title at Jerez, once again demonstrating his dominance on the track.

Razgatlioglu’s performance throughout the season was nothing short of exceptional, consistently outpacing his rivals to secure an impressive 17 victories and 25 podium finishes. This remarkable season not only earned him the Championship but also solidified his status among the legends of WorldSBK, while forging a powerful new partnership with BMW.

Razgatlioglu’s journey in motorsport began in the IDM Yamaha R6 Cup and Turkish Road Race 600cc Championship from 2011-2012. He then transitioned to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, where he claimed a win at Sachsenring in 2014. Later that year, he made his debut in the European Superstock 600 Championship, securing a victory at Magny-Cours. In 2015, Razgatlioglu joined the WorldSBK full-time grid and won the Superstock 600 title in his debut season. He moved up to Superstock 1000 in 2016-2017, finishing second in his second season. Razgatlioglu made his WorldSBK debut in 2018 with Kawasaki. His breakthrough came in 2021 when he clinched his first WorldSBK title with Yamaha, making history as the first Turkish rider to win the championship. In 2024, after switching to BMW, Razgatlioglu cemented his legacy further by capturing his second WorldSBK title.

By securing his second WorldSBK title, Razgatlioglu joins an elite group of multiple-title holders, which includes celebrated names like Alvaro Bautista, Jonathan Rea, Max Biaggi, Troy Bayliss, James Toseland, Troy Corser, Colin Edwards, Carl Fogarty, Doug Polen, and Fred Merkel. Additionally, his victory marks a historic moment as he becomes the first BMW rider to ever win the WorldSBK Championship, further bolstering his legacy within the sport.

Razgatlioglu’s dominance was especially pronounced during the Pirelli Portuguese Round, where he set a record-breaking 15 consecutive victories. Despite suffering an injury after a crash in Free Practice during the Motul French Round, which caused him to miss two rounds, Razgatlioglu made a strong comeback from the Aragon Round onward. He secured six more podium finishes and built a 46-point lead over his Italian rival, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), heading into the final round of the season.

Reflecting on his achievement, Toprak Razgatlioglu from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team shared his thoughts:

“What does it feel like to be the World Champion? Right now, I feel no stress, and I’m not excited. For me, the season is finished. We have two more races tomorrow, but I’m going to enjoy them and race without any pressure. It’s been a long season. At the start, nobody believed in me or BMW, but now everyone understands that we are the World Champions. This was a team effort because everyone worked hard and tried to improve in every race. Finally, we are World Champions, and it’s an incredible feeling. BMW has never won the title before, so I’m proud to have given them their first World Championship title. I’ve won my second title, and next season I’ll be using the number one because BMW deserves it after their first title win.”

As the 2024 season nears its conclusion, fans can look forward to an exciting final two races, where Razgatlioglu will aim to finish his season on a high note. The newly crowned WorldSBK Champion will formally receive his trophy at the prestigious Prize Giving Ceremony, which will take place on Sunday evening at the Prometeon Spanish Round.

Rider Info