Toprak Razgatlioglu’s mentor answers if he can become the face of MotoGP like Marc Marquez

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Toprak Razgatlioglu is the latest big name to come to MotoGP from World Superbikes, and he is being tipped for great things.

The 29-year-old will race with Pramac in 2026, fresh off winning his third WSBK title this year with BMW. He has swapped places with Miguel Oliveira, who lost his seat after Yamaha activated an exit clause in his contract.

Partnering with Jack Miller, Razgatlioglu will have to get used to an entirely new bike, with Yamaha rolling out the V4 project in 2026. He has tested the bike privately at Aragon and during the Valencia post-season test, finishing the session in P18.

After watching him in testing, Fabio Quartararo has changed his mind about Razgatlioglu. Yamaha’s star rider believes that he can be strong in MotoGP, as does his mentor Manuel Puccetti.

Manuel Puccetti says Toprak Razgatlioglu can ‘undoubtedly’ be the face of MotoGP like Marc Marquez

Razgatlioglu’s arrival in MotoGP has been met with huge excitement. Besides his natural talent, the Turkish rider brings an incredible following from his home nation, making him an attractive project for new owners Liberty Media.

Many have been tipping the 29-year-old to come to the premier class and fight the frontrunners, including Marc Marquez. The Ant of Cervera dominated the 2025 season with Ducati, wrapping up the title at Motegi before suffering a season-ending injury at Mandalika.

There is no question that Marquez is currently the face of MotoGP, but Puccetti believes that Razgatlioglu can also become a phenomenon for the sport. The condition is that he must be competitive.

He told GPOne: “The priority is to be strong and fast, because otherwise everything else falls apart. Undoubtedly, if Toprak proves to be competitive, I think he could be a very attractive prospect for Liberty Media, capable of generating significant media attention worldwide.”

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

Can Toprak Razgatlioglu compete with Marc Marquez in 2026?

Razgatlioglu had phone calls with Marquez before he arrived in MotoGP. He is looking forward to racing with the nine-time champion in 2026.

Given his success in WSBK, many are expecting the Turkish rider to be up near the front and taking the fight to Marquez in 2026. However, he may have to wait for his chance.

Razgatlioglu knows his ‘stoppie’ braking will not work on a MotoGP bike. Furthermore, it is highly likely that the Yamaha V4 will be uncompetitive, given the manufacturer’s issues with development in 2025.

MotoGP fans doubt that Razgatlioglu can compete with Marquez next season. Ultimately, he will need time to get up to speed with the category, and even if he did find his feet quickly, he will not have the winning bike like Ducati do.