Alex Lowes praises Toprak: “He can really extract a lot from the BMW”
Alex Lowes highlighted the ability of Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista as the main riders to watch in Misano after the final WorldSBK test at the Italian track. Lowes, who leads the championship after his season-opening double at Phillip Island, remains close in the standings, although Bautista and Razgatlioglu have produced superior performances in recent races.
Recognizing Toprak’s talent
Lowes was full of praise for Rozgatlioglu’s talent at BMW, saying: “He is now very competitive in WorldSBK. We have Toprac and Bautista, and we know how fast Alvaro is here with his speed. We can see that Toprac can really achieve a lot on this bike, and Superpole has never been his strong point; he improved a lot on the Yamaha last year, but now he shows them they are in control.
Misano test performance During the Misano test, Lowes expressed his desire to have completed a long race. “I would have liked to race longer,” began the Kawasaki rider. “We’ve always had problems with the SCX tires, so we’re not 100% sure what Pirelli will bring, but whenever there’s an option for the SC0, we’re very strong compared to the others. Our bike is going well with SC0.
Evolution of the motorcycleFor his teammate Axel Bassani, the opportunity to test and progress on the ZX-10RR was essential, especially with the SCQ tire upgrades. “The feeling with the SCX was better than the SCQ,” added Bassani. “I’m happy because we felt more at the front with SCQ. The lap wasn’t that good, but the ideal lap wasn’t that bad. Now we have to test the right setup for the bike for the race weekend.
“Lowes emphasized the need to continue to improve the bike, especially in the electronic aspects, to be less aggressive and more manageable with the SCX tires. “We’ve definitely improved the bike a bit electronically.
The bike is less aggressive when trying to maneuver, especially with the SCX tires on the Kawasaki.” With the race at Misano, Alex Lowes is optimistic about his chances but recognizes the challenge posed by Razgatlioglu and Bautista. Lowes’ praise for Toprak shows respect and admiration for a competitor who has shown he is capable of getting the most out of his BMW, highlighting the growing competition in the championship. The 2024 season promises to be intense, with high-powered drivers fighting for every point and every win.
