Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha are going to have one of the most exciting MotoGP operations in 2026 as they prepare to welcome a new face to their team.
Following an extended spell of competitiveness in the World Superbike Championship, Toprak Razgatlioglu has finally decided to make a switch.
After years of rumours tying him to a possible MotoGP ride, he has finally taken the decision to move across for good at the age of 28.
The beneficiaries are Pramac and Yamaha, but there remain questions over his adaptability and speed in the premier class.
Yamaha shared a mysterious update on Jack Miller after the announcement of Razgatlioglu, and there’s no guarantee that he will be his teammate next year.
Insiders have made an incredible prediction for Razgatlioglu and they believe that he has the potential to win on debut for the Japanese manufacturer.
Yamaha chief warns Toprak Razgatlioglu of the ‘risks’ behind 2026 MotoGP move
Razgatlioglu may have joined the wrong team, according to Jorge Lorenzo, who believes that the Turkish rider would have been better suited to a Honda.
He has won five of his last six races on a superbike and has only finished lower than second twice in the last 15.
Razgatlioglu faced a contractual issue amid his partnership with Red Bull, but was still able to sign on the dotted line for 2026.
Speaking to GPOne, Yamaha chief Paolo Pavesio shared how there are ‘risks’ behind the move, which both team and manufacturer are aware of.
“It wasn’t difficult to convince Toprak because he saw Yamaha’s commitment in MotoGP. The only important thing was his motivation, and we are all aware of the risks of such an operation, but we believe in it,” he said.
How much MotoGP experience does Toprak Razgatlioglu have?
Starting almost from square one is a bit of a tall order for Razgatlioglu, who doesn’t have much experience on a premier-class bike.
His last running came in a test back in April of 2023, over two years ago. That too was on a Yamaha and he managed to clock 116 laps.
He was seven-tenths behind test rider Cal Crutchlow and 1.4 seconds off the pace set by Dani Pedrosa on a Honda.
Razgatlioglu may have a Fabio Quartararo clause, which guarantees him the same parts as the factory riders will receive and could aid any potential title bid.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
