Marco Bezzecchi
Toprak Razgatlioglu is months away from making his debut in the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing with Pramac, but the three-time World Superbike champion has revealed why it doesn’t completely fill him with joy.
After securing his third world title in the category following a close battle with Nicolo Bulega, Toprak Razgatlioglu is swapping production motorcycles for prototypes ahead of the 2026 MotoGP season.
Through Pramac’s full factory support from Yamaha, the 29-year-old will be riding atop their new V4-powered bike during his maiden campaign.
Razgatlioglu recently completed his first test with Yamaha’s new machine in Jerez and immediately identified where they can improve some things before it is homologated for 2026.
Entering the Grand Prix scene as a well-established name in the world of two-wheeled racing, the former BMW rider is keen to replicate his results from WSBK in MotoGP.
READ MORE: Toprak Razgatlioglu has already proven he can overcome one big MotoGP concern after Yamaha V4 test
Toprak Razgatlioglu shares why his exit from WSBK makes him ‘a little bit sad’
In a celebratory interview with WSBK following his third title feat, the Turkish rider recalled some of his most memorable moments in the category.
Over eight illustrious seasons as a World Superbikes rider, Razgatlioglu stood on the podium for a total of 173 times, with 78 of those appearances being on the top step.
He shared the original expectations that he had for himself before his world-beating tenure began, saying, “I accepted that I would win only one, and now I’m a three-time world champion. This is amazing. I’m happy we got the title now.”
Razgatlioglu also revealed why he has some sadness ahead of the move, continuing with, “I’m a little bit sad, also, to move to the MotoGP paddock. I feel like I was born in the World Superbike paddock.
“I know everyone, and every race weekend, we are enjoying ourselves sometimes. When I enter the paddock, I’m always talking with someone, and this is a very good feeling for me.
“I am really going to miss this one. I really love the Superbike paddock.”
It’s understood that Razgatlioglu’s move to MotoGP was inspired by his father’s dream to see him racing in the premier class.
Unfortunately, the Turkish rider’s father passed away before his son’s debut in WSBK, making his switch to MotoGP all the more special for him.
READ MORE: How Toprak Razgatlioglu’s Yamaha test times compared to Fabio Quartararo’s Aragon Grand Prix pace
Toprak Razgatlioglu hasn’t ruled out a return to WSBK in the future
It’s not often that riders make the switch from the WSBK to MotoGP for a full-time gig, let alone a multiple world champion doing it.
Cal Crutchlow was the most recent rider to shift categories. The British rider swapped his superbike for a prototype within the Yamaha ranks in 2011, where he would spend ten seasons as a full-time rider in the sport.
At 29 years of age and in the prime of his career, Toprak Razgatlioglu hasn’t ruled out a return to WSBK in the future, and given the sentiments he has for the world championship, it could be a storybook way to end his racing career on two wheels.
It remains to be seen how well he will be able to adapt to the riding style that a MotoGP prototype demands.
Paired with the subpar machinery that Yamaha currently provides to their riders, frustration could be a leading factor in an early departure from the category to more familiar waters.
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