Toprak Razgatlioglu admits one thing ‘won’t be easy’ to accept at Pramac Yamaha in 2026

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Toprak Razgatlioglu will finally make the switch from World Superbikes to MotoGP during the 2026 season after signing a factory Yamaha contract to ride for Pramac.

The 28-year-old has been the class of the production bike series for the last few years, and he could also leave WSBK as a three-time champion. Razgatlioglu of BMW leads Ducati ace Nicolo Bulega by 36 points atop the World Superbike standings with only two rounds to run.

WSBK is at Estoril this week for the penultimate round, ahead of visiting Jerez for the season finale on October 17-19. Razgatlioglu is trying to add to his World Superbike title in 2021 for Yamaha and in 2024 for BMW. The Turkish rider has already won 19 of the 30 races this year.

Razgatlioglu has also failed to finish lower than second through the last 21 races, including a remarkable streak of 13 consecutive wins featuring perfect weekends at Misano, Donington Park, Balaton Park and Magny-Cours. He even did another treble at Portimao back in March.

Toprak Razgatlioglu admits finishing outside the top 10 in MotoGP ‘won’t be easy’ to accept

His vast success during the 2025 World Superbike Championship has moved Razgatlioglu to 76 wins and 168 podiums from 252 races since his debut in 2018. So, Razgatlioglu admits it will not be easy for him to accept finishing races outside the top 10 in MotoGP next season.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname

The Alanya native believes the “most difficult” aspect of his rookie MotoGP season aboard a Yamaha with Pramac in 2026 will be the likelihood of struggling to finish races in the top 10. Razgatlioglu signed a two-year Yamaha contract with the aim of fighting at the front in 2027.

Razgatlioglu said, via quotes by Motosprint: “For this reason, 2026 will be the most difficult year for me. Maybe next year I’ll struggle to get into the top 10, and it won’t be easy.

“But we’ll see. The first year must be useful for learning. I don’t expect anything other than to adapt to the bike and have fun.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu faces a major learning curve in his rookie MotoGP season at Pramac

Razgatlioglu will partner Jack Miller at Pramac in 2026 after Yamaha also gave the Australian a new one-year contract to stay at their satellite team. Razgatlioglu’s Red Bull sponsorship blocks him joining Yamaha’s factory team, as Monster is currently the brand’s title sponsor.

Still, Razgatlioglu accepted Yamaha’s offer to ride for Pramac in 2026 as it affords the World Superbike star a chance to learn the tracks on the MotoGP calendar that he does not know. He will target stronger results in 2027 when MotoGP will also introduce its new regulations.

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

Pirelli is also set to replace Michelin as MotoGP’s sole tyre provider in 2027, which may help Razgatlioglu in 2027 but can cause him issues in 2026. Marco Melandri expects Razgatlioglu will “cause trouble” in MotoGP with Pirelli tyres, given his experience on the rubber in WSBK.

But Ducati general manager Luigi Dall’Igna thinks Razgatlioglu will need to adapt his braking style in MotoGP, which is his major strength. Pramac will get their first look at his potential on the YZR-M1 in November, with Razgatlioglu set to test Yamaha’s MotoGP bike at Aragon.