Toprak Razgatlioglu "sad" after first taste of MotoGP

The MotoGP debut is proving more complicated than expected for Toprak Razgatlioglu. The three-time World Superbike champion will be at the start in Thailand from Feb. 27 to March 1 after a difficult pre-season, with adaptation to the Yamaha still far from complete. In fact, in the Buriram tests, the Turkish rider finished second-to-last among the starters, accumulating a delay of more than two seconds from Marco Bezzecchi’s Aprilia. Also faster than him were his brand mates: Jack Miller with the Prima Pramac Racing team and Fabio Quartararo on the official M1. In addition, Razgatlioglu was the slowest on the race pace.

The technical differences from the Superbike are bigger than expected for the Turk. It is not only the bike that changes, but also the aerodynamics and especially the way the tires are handled: after years with Pirelli tires now Razgatlioglu has to adapt to the MotoGP Michelin tires, which give different sensations, especially on the front. “In braking it’s fine, but when I lean the bike I still don’t know the limit” he explained with sincerity. “I see others lean so much and the bike still turns, while I lean and always expect to lose the front”.

Abituated to always fight for the podium and the title in Superbike, Razgatlioglu now has to chase and build new certainties lap after lap. “I try to do my best corner after corner, but the time doesn’t come and that makes me sad.”

The Turkish rider also added, “Maybe I have to crash to really understand the limit.”

Razgatlioglu’s growth path also comes at a difficult time for Yamaha in MotoGP. As Fabio Quartararo said, “For him mentally it’s difficult, because in Superbike he was always in the top three. I saw him really frustrated. It came at the most complicated time for Yamaha.”

So, Toprak will face a difficult start in MotoGP, adapting to a completely different bike than in Superbike. It will be curious to see how he will fare in 2027 when the rule change brings Pirelli to MotoGP as well. For now, however, the goal is one: to keep his focus and head up for the first Grand Prix.