Dani Pedrosa says Toprak Razgatlioglu already reminds him of one of MotoGP’s biggest legends

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Toprak Razgatlioglu made his first official appearance as a Pramac MotoGP rider at the post-season test in Valencia on Tuesday. Few riders have arrived in the premier class with this much hype.

Razgatlioglu has bucked the conventional route Moto3/Moto2 route to MotoGP, instead making a long-awaited switch at the age of 29 after winning three World Superbikes titles.

Earlier this month at Aragon, Razgatlioglu tested Yamaha’s V4 bike for the first time. After Valencia, he will also be able to participate in the Sepang shakedown during the winter.

Both Yamaha and the rider himself are trying to play down expectations for 2026 due to the steep learning curve he faces. The M1 was the slowest bike on the grid this year, with Pramac finishing bottom of the standings.

Dani Pedrosa likens ‘spectacular’ Toprak Razgatlioglu to Kevin Schwantz

Razgatlioglu, who’s replacing 117-race veteran Miguel Oliveira, is one of two rookies on the 2026 grid. He’s joined by Moto2 champion and new LCR signing Diogo Moreira.

Dani Pedrosa has already compared Razgatlioglu to Kevin Schwantz, who won the 500cc title in 1993. They share the same ‘spectacular’ riding style.

Schwantz ranks just outside the all-time top 10 for premier class wins (25), while only six riders can better his tally of 27 poles.

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“I’m looking forward to seeing the rookies,” Pedrosa said during the world feed coverage. “Two interesting characters, I’m really looking forward to seeing them on track.

“Toprak, to me, when I watch him on Superbikes, he reminds me of Kevin Schwantz sometimes. He’s so spectacular, he enjoys riding so much. I think he will bring a lot of good moments for MotoGP. I’m really looking forward to his riding style.”

What does Kevin Schwantz think of Toprak Razgatlioglu?

Speaking back in May – before the Pramac Yamaha deal was confirmed – Schwantz called Razgatlioglu an ‘amazing’ rider who ‘can do anything on a motorcycle’.

He expressed confidence that the Turkish superstar could ‘jump in right away’ and be competitive.

This move has been in the works for years. Razgatlioglu tested for Yamaha back in 2023, but neither side was satisfied with the results.

This contributed to his decision to join BMW in WSBK, where he won two further titles. But Paolo Pavesio rebuilt Yamaha’s relationship with Razgatlioglu and offered him the opportunity he craved.