Toprak Razgatlioglu stole the spotlight in round two of the 2024 World SBK championship, winning twice for BMW in just his second race weekend on the M 1000 RR.

Razgatlioglu won Race 1 and engaged in an intense final-lap battle with Alvaro Bautista in the Superpole Race.

Paul Denning remarked on Razgatlioglu’s success with BMW, describing it as “painful to watch.”

While Razgatlioglu consistently performs well for BMW, Scott Redding continues to struggle this season, similar to his difficulties in 2023.

Redding has only scored ten points so far, while Razgatlioglu is fourth in the standings with 71 points.

Redding believes he is making progress despite Razgatlioglu’s impressive performance, which makes his situation seem worse.

“It’s been challenging with ups and downs. I see potential in the bike and myself, but it hasn’t been fully realized,” Redding said to WorldSBK.com. “Phillip Island and Barcelona have always been tough tracks for me, even though I enjoy Phillip Island.”

He added that he no longer gets too stressed over underperformance and instead focuses on improving the bike.

“Moving to Barcelona, the improvements we made in the long corners helped. Sector two has always been my weak spot, but this year, for the first time ever, we made progress there.”

Redding also noted that he felt good about Race 2’s tyre management despite being one of the heaviest riders.

“I felt I managed the race well, but Razgatlioglu’s success is making my situation look worse,” he stated, noting the first two circuits don’t suit his style.

The team has provided support, helping Redding remain composed and focused on bike adjustments.

As the last of the four BMW riders in the championship, Redding faces the most pressure to keep his position.

Referring to Razgatlioglu’s achievements with the factory team bike, Redding remarked, “There’s always pressure in this sport. While I’m happy for him, it’s difficult to see because I feel I should be the one winning.

“That’s the nature of this sport: every rider believes they should be winning races.

“I’ve worked hard over the years to improve the package, and while I feel the package is good, I haven’t had my moment to shine. I’m not resentful about it.

“I aim to beat everyone on the track, whether they’re on the same bike or not.

“That motivates me, as sometimes you need to face a setback to ignite your passion and push forward.

“I operate that way; I need to face some challenges and get fired up, and then I’ll start racing better!”

Though Razgatlioglu has been BMW’s top rider, Michael Van Der Mark also performed well in Catalunya, achieving top ten finishes in all three races.

The potential of the 2024 M 1000 RR is evident, making it BMW’s most competitive bike in years.

Discussing his performance and areas for improvement, Redding stated, “There’s definitely more potential in the bike, as the results show; the final race statistics don’t lie.

“For me, the new fairing improves handling, but it also impacts top speed on straight lines, which is a drawback.

“Given how close the times are now, even a small loss can be costly. Still, overall, the package is better; Mikey’s consistency reflects that.

“I believe there’s room for growth, and BMW has made great strides in developing the package. The new additions to the team have accelerated progress.

“As we compete at tracks where we’re historically strong, I expect all of us to perform well at the front.

“This will help build momentum for the team and the project, making us more competitive even at tracks where we’ve struggled in the past.

“We aim to be in the top five and fight for podiums, and I expect we’ll see more of that; the bike has speed and good handling.

“It’s about combining everything. We’ve worked on the bike to improve stopping and turning, and we’ve succeeded. I believe we’ll do well at Assen, aiming for top six finishes.

“That’s where my potential and the bike’s potential can align, and I’m excited for the upcoming races.”