P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Axel Bassani says Toprak Razgatlioglu was the best rider in 2023, not WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista.
According to former Motocorsa Ducati rider, now riding for Kawasaki, Toprak Razgatlioglu was chosen as the best rider in 2023 due to his incredible performances and consistency. Although Alvaro Bautista dominated the championship in terms of race wins, Razgatlioglu managed to push him and the Panigale V4 R until the final round. Bassani, in an interview with WorldSBK.com, expressed disappointment in Michael Rinaldi’s performance, expecting more from him. Additionally, Bassani mentioned his best moments of the season, including podium finishes at Misano and Imola, while pointing out a poor performance in Portimao. As for racing against other riders, Bassani praised Alvaro Bautista and Scott Redding for their fair competition, but mentioned that Jonathan Rea can be challenging, as he tries to push the limits of racing.
