Danilo Petrucci has ‘certainly’ seen a change in Toprak Razgatlioglu amid Honda and Yamaha’s MotoGP interest

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Honda and Yamaha are fighting to get Toprak Razgatlioglu on a MotoGP bike with his contract for BMW in the World Superbike Championship expiring at the end of 2025.

The 28-year-old has often been a top target for MotoGP teams, but Razgatlioglu has so far resisted leaving the production bike series. Yet the upcoming rule changes due to start in the 2027 MotoGP season might finally see the Turkish star head to the prototype championship.

Razgatlioglu could prove to be a huge benefit for a MotoGP factory ahead of Pirelli replacing Michelin as the series’ sole tyre provider in 2027. Honda also have a plan in mind that would see Razgatlioglu test their 850cc bike freely in 2026 before his and its race debuts in 2027.

But Honda are not at the front of the queue for his services, as Razgatlioglu has his heart set on moving to MotoGP in 2026. The Japanese crew would like him to spend next year at their WSBK team before switching series in 2027, putting Pramac Yamaha at the front of the hunt.

Danilo Petrucci thinks Toprak Razgatlioglu looks ‘nervous’ fighting for the World Superbike title amid MotoGP interest

Yamaha want Razgatlioglu to race for Pramac in 2026, as their de facto second factory team have the Japanese brand’s only vacancy for next season with Jack Miller out of contract. He also sees the Pramac seat as Razgatlioglu’s most likely way to move to MotoGP next season.

Former Pramac, Ducati and KTM Tech3 MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci would also like to see Razgatlioglu make the reverse switch to himself and move to the prototype series soon. He also feels the path from World Superbikes to MotoGP could shut soon if he does not move.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Honda from the MotoGP team’s riders to leadership

For now, though, Razgatlioglu’s focus is on winning back-to-back World Superbike titles with BMW. But Petrucci believes the Alanya native has looked ‘nervous’ targeting his third WSBK title, with Razgatlioglu 21 points behind Nicolo Bulega ahead of round four in Italy this week.

Petrucci said, via Motosprint: “If I were him, I would go to MotoGP. He is 28, it is almost late. I don’t know what kind of offers he has, I would like to see what he can do on a MotoGP [bike].

“I have certainly seen him a little more nervous this year, confirming himself with the number 1, the history of the rules and Bulega, who is going very strong and making the difference is quite difficult.”

Honda are ready to offer Toprak Razgatlioglu a two-year contract to beat Pramac Yamaha

World Superbikes is staging its fourth of 12 rounds this year at Cremona Circuit in Lombardy. Razgatlioglu had to sit out the 2024 race at Cremona Circuit whilst the BMW rider recovered from a mild traumatic pneumothorax injury after hitting the Turn 14 barrier at Magny-Cours.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Pramac from the MotoGP team’s riders to bike

He still managed to deny Bulega the 2024 WSBK title, though, despite missing two events as a result of his Magny-Cours crash in the second practice session. Razgatlioglu won the title in his first year for BMW by 43 points and will now try to overturn a 21-point deficit in 2025.

But the allure of a move to MotoGP continues to bubble away in the background to his title bid. And Honda are ready to offer Razgatlioglu an ‘astronomical’ contract, which would see him spend 2026 at their WSBK crew then be under contract at their MotoGP team in 2027.