Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha have signed Toprak Razgatlioglu to join Pramac in the 2026 MotoGP season, but the World Superbikes ace already knows what is needed for a 2027 factory seat.
The factory Yamaha team are on paper locked in through the 2026 MotoGP season, as Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins both have contracts to ride for the Iwata crew. So, Razgatlioglu has agreed to represent their satellite squad, Pramac, to finally make the move over to MotoGP.
Pramac had a vacancy for the two-time WSBK champion on the 2026 MotoGP grid, as Jack Miller is out of contract after the 2025 season. Miguel Oliveira also faces an uncertain future at the Tuscan team, despite the 30-year-old holding a factory Yamaha contract for next year.
Yamaha included a release clause in Oliveira’s contract to join Pramac this season, which will let them release the Portuguese if he is the lowest Yamaha rider in the 2025 standings at the summer break. Yamaha could release Rins from his works contract for the 2026 season, too.
Toprak Razgatlioglu will not join Yamaha’s factory team in 2027 unless he leaves Red Bull
Yet, even if Rins were to leave Yamaha after this season, Razgatlioglu cannot move up to join Quartararo as the Turkish talent is a Red Bull athlete and Monster sponsors the Iwata squad. His sponsorship deal with Red Bull even makes Razgatlioglu joining Yamaha in 2027 unlikely.
That is according to Motorsport.com, which reports that Razgatlioglu would have to ‘pay the same price’ as Marc Marquez did to join the factory Ducati team this year and leave Red Bull if he wants to join Yamaha. Marquez axed his Red Bull deal as Monster also sponsors Ducati.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname
Monster is expected to remain the title sponsor of the factory Yamaha MotoGP team for the 2027 season, despite neither confirming the length of the extended contract they agreed to in 2022. So, Razgatlioglu would have to deal Red Bull a hammer blow to move up to Yamaha.
Razgatlioglu is Red Bull’s ‘main attraction’ in Turkey, but the double WSBK champion would have to part with the brand to join Yamaha. It is not the case at Pramac, who field Monster athlete Miller and Red Bull star Oliveira without direct deals with either energy drink brand.
Toprak Razgatlioglu will receive factory Yamaha machinery at Pramac in 2026
So, no matter how well Razgatlioglu performs during his debut MotoGP season with Pramac in 2026, while also helping Yamaha to develop their 850cc bike for the 2027 rules and Pirelli tyres, his personal Red Bull sponsorship deal will prevent his graduation to the factory team.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Pramac from the MotoGP team’s riders to bike
The Alanya native will have to hope that riding for Pramac offers him the same opportunities as it did for Jorge Martin, who won the 2024 riders’ title at the Tuscan team riding a satellite Ducati GP24. Razgatlioglu will get an equal bike to Yamaha’s works riders at Pramac in 2026.
Pramac are also Yamaha’s de facto second factory team after they left the Ducati stable this year to help the Japanese brand move back to the front of the MotoGP field. So, even if the Turkish ace is not in Yamaha’s fold, Razgatlioglu will not be at a disadvantage due to his M1.
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