Marco Bezzecchi
Fabio Quartararo gets a new Yamaha teammate to work with in 2026 as Toprak Razgatlioglu joins Pramac from the World Superbike Championship.
The three-time champion is a rather late MotoGP debutant and will be 29 years old at the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix.
It’ll be vital for Razgatlioglu to make use of pre-season testing to get up to speed with the characteristics of his new bike.
He’ll be using a V4 engine that Quartararo hasn’t been overly complimentary of so far. He has put Yamaha under some pressure to improve it quickly.
The top five when Fabio Quartararo last won a race
Razgatlioglu disagrees with Quartararo about the V4 and believes that the new unit is already showing some encouraging signs.
It may point to why Yamaha are not listening to Quartararo behind the scenes, when it comes to the development of their new engine.
READ MORE: Fabio Quartararo has changed his mind about joining a satellite MotoGP team if he leaves Yamaha
Fabio Quartararo should stay at Yamaha if Toprak Razgatlioglu thinks he can challenge Marc Marquez
Even though Razgatlioglu might need Quartararo to leave Yamaha if he ever wants to win a title, since he has so much talent and experience, he will back himself to come out on top.
There’s a reason why he was able to win 13 consecutive World Superbike races in 2025, trouncing his opposition along the way.
Razgatlioglu’s ‘biggest target’ is to challenge Marc Marquez in 2027, which is a lofty ambition for someone who will be in their second season in the premier class.
Has Toprak moved to MotoGP too LATE?
Taking on the might of Ducati is no mean feat. But, if the Turkish rider seriously believes that it could happen, should Quartararo want to think twice about leaving?
His new colleague has seen something that suggests winning is possible, and jumping ship just as they start to win again would be a horrible feeling for the Frenchman.
He has given so much to their operation and has shown a lot of loyalty to their cause. It’s part of what will make the MotoGP rider market in 2026 so fascinating.
READ MORE: Toprak Razgatlioglu admits he will find it ‘difficult’ fighting for 15th place at Pramac in 2026
Why Toprak Razgatlioglu is already stressed about the 2026 campaign
The main bonus that Quartararo has in 2026 is that he doesn’t exactly have to ride for his future. He will receive offers, and the pressure is off his shoulders.
In that regard, he shares a similar situation with Razgatlioglu, who is one of the few riders under contract for 2027 already.
But that doesn’t mean that it’s all sunshine and daisies. Razgatlioglu is stressed about 2026 because he knows that all eyes are going to be on him.
No matter the situation, if he struggles relative to teammate Jack Miller, then he will have to face the music, and it could be a real test for him, mentally.
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