Toprak Razgatlioglu complained after the Brazilian Grand Prix about a problem on the Yamaha MotoGP bike that has become familiar in recent years.

Razgatlioglu’s Brazilian MotoGP weekend started well in mixed conditions on Friday as he and made it into Q2 for the first time.

On Saturday things were worse. He qualified 12th with a time that would’ve put him second-last in Q1, went backwards in both races and finished 17th (in front of only Maverick Vinales) in the grand prix.

Sunday was better than Saturday, the Turkish rider said after the race, but he added that he was plagued by corner exit traction issues, a common theme with Yamaha that extends back to the beginning of the Michelin tyre and control electronics era in 2016 and 2017.

“The grand prix went better than the Sprint,” Toprak Razgatlioglu said after the race in Goiania, as reported by GPOne.

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“But the rear grip is strange. The other manufacturers have more grip than Yamaha. 

“We tried to improve the situation, but as soon as I opened the throttle, I lost a lot of time. I had a lot of wheelspin and couldn’t accelerate well.”

Razgatlioglu spent much of the Goiania race behind fellow Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo, and felt he could be stronger than the 2021 MotoGP champion in some places, but lost out in traction.

“When I was behind Fabio [Quartararo], I was doing really well in almost every corner,” he said.

“In some, I was even able to make up ground on him. But as soon as we opened the throttle, he always had a big advantage. Maybe he managed the tyre better or had a better setup. 

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“He was always very effective under acceleration. In turn 12 and the final corner, he always managed to gain ground.”

The three-time World Superbike Champion eventually dropped back from Quartararo after a mistake at turn one.

“I made a mistake in turn 1, went off-line, and lost contact,” the Pramac Yamaha rider said.

“From that moment on, I had no reference points and was riding on my own. 

“I’m not satisfied, because once again I finished almost last.

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“But this weekend I learned some things about engine braking. Now I’m more satisfied with my braking.”

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