2021 WorldSBK manufacturer review: Yamaha clinch second title, first since 2007
Not only did Toprak Razgatlioglu claim a stunning maiden WorldSBK title in 2021, but Yamaha also won their first manufacturers’ title since 2007, which is just their second ever in the premier class.
Looking for their first riders’ title since Ben Spies won in 2009, second ever in WorldSBK, Razgatlioglu put together one of the better World Superbike seasons we've ever seen.
Had it not been for an accident with Garrett Gerloff in Assen and two mechanical failures while running in the top two (Catalunya and Portimao), Razgatlioglu could have finished every race which is stunning to even imagine given how much he was pushed by Jonathan Rea and Scott Redding.
Instead, Razgatlioglu finished 34 of 37 races, while he also took career bests in wins, podiums, pole positions and points finishes.
The Turkish star who is being heavily rumoured as a potential MotoGP rider for 2023 finished no lower than sixth in a race, which was a huge reason for Yamaha’s overall team success.
But while Razgatlioglu was sensational from start-to-finish and deserves all the plaudits he receives, we can’t forget the impact team-mate Andrea Locatelli had.
From Assen onwards Locatelli was the most consistent rider outside of the top three - Razgatlioglu, Rea and Redding.
The WorldSBK rookie went on a run of 17 top five finishes in 20 races which was key to him overhauling Michael Rinaldi for fourth in the championship.
Between Razgatlioglu and Locatelli, the two of them accounted for 855 points which was best among teammates - 72 more than Redding and Rinaldi achieved for Ducati.
Away from the Pata Yamaha duo, Garrett Gerloff also played a big role for the Japanese manufacturer as he claimed a first independent riders’ title, even if more was expected in his second season with the GRT team.
Gerloff finished seventh on 228 points, while team-mate Kohta Nozane was the lone Yamaha rider who didn’t break the 100 point barrier. Nozane finished on 64 points.
