Marco Bezzecchi
Toprak Razgatlioglu is arguably one of the top two-wheel talents outside MotoGP. He won his second World Superbike championship last year.
Razgatlioglu featured in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2013 and 2014, placing 10th initially before improving to sixth. Having chosen the Superbike route, he made his world championship debut in 2018.
He won his first title in 2021 for Yamaha, then finished runner-up for the next two years. A move to BMW yielded a return to the top step of the championship podium.
Overall, the Turkish rider has entered 222 races in the series, winning 57 of them. Remarkably, he’s finished on the podium 142 times, corresponding to around 64% of his starts.
He’s previously tested a Yamaha MotoGP bike and insisted that he’d only make the move across for a factory deal. However, a report from GPOne claims this stance has now softened.
No rider has ever won titles in both MotoGP and World Superbikes. Razgatlioglu clearly feels he can make history.
Toprak Razgatlioglu negotiated with Pramac for 2025 MotoGP spot
Razgatlioglu’s camp initially held talks with Honda, the most successful team on the grid. However, they ultimately decided to renew Joan Mir’s contract, which ‘closed the door’.
A ‘rift’ developed between Razgatlioglu and Yamaha prior to his exit from the team. But manager Kenan Sofuoglu has been able to mend it.
This paved the way for ‘in-depth discussions’ with the Japanese manufacturer over a spot with Pramac. They’ve formed an alliance for 2025 after the Ducati split.
Pramac would have been an attractive option for Razgatlioglu, having won the teams’ title in 2023 and the riders’ title last year through Jorge Martin. Unfortunately, the move didn’t materialise, but he may feature in MotoGP rider market conversations again in the coming months.
Pramac chief issued classy verdict on Jorge Martin joining Aprilia
Pramac lost Martin at the end of the season as the Spaniard moved to Aprilia. With Franco Morbidelli leaving for Ducati affiliate VR46, they have formed an all-new lineup.
Miguel Oliveria joined from Trackhouse on a multi-year deal, while Jack Miller took the second spot after his KTM exit. Miller’s one-year contract puts him under immediate pressure at the 18-win team.
2025 may be a comedown year for Pramac after their historic campaign. They became the first satellite team to win a MotoGP title.
Boss Fonsi Nieto has no grudge against Martin, recognising that his move away was the ‘fairest thing’. He says the prospect of him leaving gave the team extra motivation to deliver the title.
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