RAZGATLIOĞLU CROWNED 2021 WORLDSBK CHAMPION IN INDONESIA!

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu was crowned the 2021 FIM Superbike World Champion at a dramatic Indonesian finale, while Yamaha and the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK squad won both the Manufactures’ and Teams’ titles to secure a famous “Triple Crown” victory.

Heading into the final day of the season with a 30-point advantage in the championship, Razgatlıoğlu sealed the title in the first race at the Mandalika International Street Circuit. Needing to finish ahead of, or directly behind, title rival Jonathan Rea to secure his first World Championship, the flying Turk engaged in a fierce race-long battle both with Rea and Ducati’s Scott Redding, finally fighting back from third position after a rare error in the tricky conditions and setting the fastest lap of the race to follow Rea across the line, and achieve his life-long dream.

Razgatlıoğlu becomes Turkey’s maiden WorldSBK champion and Yamaha’s first since 2009, while the 25-year-old is also the first rider to win the title having also won a support category (2015 European Superstock Championship).

The thrilling Mandalika event rounds off one of the most exciting WorldSBK seasons in history, where fans witnessed some of the most intense battles ever seen. Razgatlıoğlu ended the campaign with 13 wins, 29 podiums and three pole positions. The #54 rider started the final two races from the front of the grid and rounded off his year with a fourth-place finish in treacherous wet conditions, after yet more exciting battling that has become a staple of the 2021 season.

Teammate Andrea Locatelli had already claimed the 2021 Rookie of the Year title in Argentina, and rode superbly in Lombok to finish fourth from fifth on the grid in Race 1, while his mature eighth-place finish in the wet second race delivered fourth in the final riders’ standings. Loka’s consistency and rapidly improving form over the course of the season were critical to the achievement of both the Manufactures’ and Teams’ titles, highlighting just how impressive the 25-year-old has been this year.

The inaugural Indonesian event marks the end of the 2021 WorldSBK Championship, and following the celebrations the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK team will be fully focused on 2022, to give Razgatlıoğlu and Locatelli the best chance at fighting for the world title once again.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu – Championship: P1 (Race 1: P2 / Race 2: P4)

“For me not an easy season, I think the same for all riders. But we are the World Champions! I don’t know what to say, but it’s a very special day for me. Not easy races today, I tried my best and in the end we came out on top! This year there were many races, many difficult moments, but we tried our best and it’s good to be here as Champions. To win against Johnny is good – he is a WorldSBK legend, a six-time champion and he’s always good in the wet condition, also in the dry, every race he is there. He helped me when I started, he is a good guy and we are friends off the track but this year we fight a lot. I never changed my mindset all season, I just focused on trying to win every weekend. Congratulations to all riders, everyone tried their best. The season is over now, and it’s good to see Yamaha champions again for the first time since 2009. This title is for my Dad, it has been an incredible day, he always said that one day we will see you as World Champion, so I say again this is for him and I hope he would be happy. I want to thank Yamaha and my great team, they deserve this! I want more next season, I will fight again and I will try every race to win. But now I need to relax a little bit, so far I don’t feel inside that I am Champion, but when I wake in the morning I know it is true and I am so happy.”

Andrea Locatelli – Championship: P4 (Race 1: P4 / Race 2: P8)

"Looking back on this season, it’s great to finish P4 in the championship. I’m so happy for Toprak and the team because we win everything. I wasn’t too happy with the last race, but this is my first year and I’m starting to understand the WorldSBK championship now. For next year, we will for sure come back even stronger. I’m so happy for the guys in the team, because without them the success of this year would not be possible and I want to thank all of them and Yamaha. It is a pleasure to part of this project, and next year I will try to fight with the guys at the front.”

Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK

“What a season, it’s a very emotional moment. I’m so happy for the people in the team and in Yamaha. I’m also so happy for Toprak as a human being, not only as an athlete, to achieve his dream - he has been incredible. He’s kept his humble approach, he respects everybody and he works as a true part of the team. He had some difficult moments that weren’t his fault this year, and to come back from those without making a single mistake across 37 races is very impressive. An incredible season, he deserves it and the team deserves it! It’s a bit of a cliché to say that it’s more difficult to defend a championship than to win it for the first time, so we have to stay focused for next year. Jonathan will come back strong, he has elevated his own performance this year to fight with Toprak, so to beat him next year will be a challenge that we look forward to. Loka also capped off a fantastic maiden season with fourth in the championship and as the top rookie. He has really shown that he is a big talent and has done a fantastic job to be best of the rest behind the top three, in 2022 he will take another step forward. We have a great group of people here in the team and I just want to thank all our partners and everyone involved with this project for their hard work, great attitude and massive commitment this year. We are the Champions!”