The consequences of Toprak Razgatlioglu’s arrival in MotoGP

With Toprak Razgatlioglu’s much-anticipated debut in MotoGP announced for next season, it’s time to assess the consequences his arrival will have – both for Yamaha and for the championship as a whole.

The Turkish rider’s signing is far from an ordinary move by Yamaha — the brand with which he claimed the WorldSBK title in 2021, before moving to BMW, where he also won last season’s championship. His close relationship with Paolo Pavesio, the new head of Yamaha’s racing division who recently replaced Lin Jarvis, sparked speculation in both paddocks that the Alanya-born racer might eventually make the leap to a series with far greater global reach. The imminent acquisition of Dorna by Liberty Media should only amplify MotoGP’s exposure and popularity.

Razgatlioglu’s arrival is anything but conventional — and even the way the news was announced made that clear. It came through a joint communication effort by Yamaha Europe and the MotoGP team across both entities’ media channels. The press release featured a striking contrast: the Monster logo, Yamaha’s main team sponsor (with Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins as factory riders), clashing with the Red Bull cap worn by Toprak. In Turkey, the double WorldSBK champion is a major national icon and the face of Red Bull in the country.

His agreement with Pramac circumvents any sponsorship conflicts, since Paolo Campinoti’s team has no ties with Monster – even though Jack Miller is personally sponsored by the energy drink company. In fact, Miguel Oliveira, Miller’s current team-mate, is also a Red Bull athlete.

Things could get complicated for Toprak, however, if he were to be promoted to the factory Yamaha squad in 2027 – assuming the team renews its deal with Monster, the duration of which was not disclosed at the time of their latest renewal in 2022. Still, if Marc Marquez gave up his Red Bull ambassador status earlier this season in order to join Ducati’s factory team, which also partners with Monster, it’s not far-fetched to think Razgatlioglu would make a similar sacrifice.

While the arrival of the WorldSBK star is now official, it remains unclear which bike he’ll ride. The current market scenario suggests that Miller may be the odd man out, with his contract expiring at the end of this year, whereas Oliveira is signed through 2026. However, Motorsport.com understands that Yamaha is very pleased with Miller’s input – not so much for his results (he sits 16th in the standings, tied on points with Alex Rins), but for his technical feedback. The Iwata factory is reportedly so satisfied that they may offer him a renewal. In any case, both Pramac riders have been told they have until the summer break to earn their places for 2026.

Jack Miller, Pramac Racing, Miguel Oliveira, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Pramac Racing

Razgatlioglu is now facing the greatest challenge of his racing career. He’ll need to adapt not only to a completely different type of machine – a much faster, stiffer prototype that’s far less forgiving of mistakes – but also to Michelin tyres, albeit only for a year, as Pirelli will take over as MotoGP’s exclusive supplier in 2027. For this reason, some believe a hybrid path — like the one Nicolo Bulega has agreed to with Ducati, allowing him to remain in WorldSBK in 2026 while also serving as a MotoGP test rider — would have been a safer option. Motorsport.com understands that Razgatlioglu considered a similar arrangement with Honda, but the two parties ultimately failed to reach a deal.

There’s no doubt about Toprak’s courage – both in his on-track performances and in his bold decisions off the bike. His latest move: becoming a MotoGP rookie at the age of 29, on a machine that’s nowhere near the level of the dominant Ducatis. As much as he loves daring stunts, the one announced on Tuesday will subject him to more pressure than he’s ever faced, in a paddock where rivals are eager to see if he can live up to the hype.

“How he approaches the challenge will make all the difference. If he sets his sights on immediately running with the front guys, it could backfire,” a paddock insider who has recently worked with Razgatlioglu told this writer. “For him, success would be about steady progress throughout the season – finishing 2026 in a much stronger place than where he started.”

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It remains to be seen whether Phil Marron, Toprak’s current crew chief, will accompany him to MotoGP. “Phil is excellent in the psychological department and could play a key role in helping Toprak focus on learning – because the level of intensity in MotoGP is unlike anything he’s experienced,” the same figure added. “What he absolutely must avoid is letting the pressure push him into feeling like he has to prove something.”

That sentiment is echoed by a rival team member familiar with both the WorldSBK and MotoGP paddocks: “He’s a great guy and an incredible rider. But if I’m being honest, I don’t think he realises what he’s getting into. The level of hostility in MotoGP is something he hasn’t seen in Superbike.”

In this article

Oriol Puigdemont

MotoGP

Toprak Razgatlioglu

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