‘KRT has big respect’ for Razgatlioglu, but ‘rules are rules’ - Roda

Round eight of the WorldSBK championship in Magny-Cours was perhaps the most enthralling of the season thus far after sensational on and off-track action. 

Championship contenders Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea pushed one-another to the extreme with some incredible racing during Sunday’s double-header, however, the weekend ended on a relatively sour note as Razgatlioglu had his first ever clean-sweep of wins reduced to two. 

The Yamaha rider ran onto the green at turn 11 by the smallest of margins during the final lap of the Superpole race. 

And while that’s normally an obvious penalty as crossing the green is deemed to be gaining an advantage, World Superbike officials chose not to take any action at first - only when a protest from Kawasaki came in. 

In fact, Razgatlioglu actually lost momentum out of the turn 11 kink, and was passed by Rea into turn 12. 

Paul Denning, Pata Yamaha Team Principal, was disappointed post race by Kawasaki’ decision to refer to the stewards, however, Guim Roda provided context as to why the team did so. 

Roda added: "In case there is any doubt I would like to explain KRT’s facts after the Superpole race at Magny-Cours. 

"After the last lap of the race, Raul, the KRT hardware technician, who was sitting in the pit box watching the race as he normally does, mentioned to me he thought Toprak had run out the track on the last lap so I told him to check and confirm.

"As an example, in Assen, the FIM WorldSBK Stewards penalised Ana Carrasco on the last lap because somebody push her out of the track limits. 

"This was unfortunate and also unlucky. Ana complained about this, but I said to her ‘a rule is rule and we must accept it and be more clever next time’. 

"On the last lap of any race run under these rules it is very important to ride the limits but not to cross them… and one of the most important things to consider is not to go off the track. 

"This part of the track at Magny-Cours, at the level Rea and Toprak are fighting, would give an advantage; small but still an advantage. For me, it was enough to refer to the rules and make a comment to the FIM WorldSBK Stewards."

While relationships might be affected between the two teams going forward, Roda also stressed that former Kawasaki rider Razgatlioglu still ‘has big respect’ from KRT.

"Toprak rode an incredible race, and everyone at KRT has big respect for his efforts and the incredible job he is doing this year," added Roda.  

"The show Rea and Toprak gave the fans was amazing, and I'm sure they will give us more close and exciting races."