Marco Bezzecchi
Toprak Razgatlioglu comes to MotoGP in 2026 with huge pressure and expectation on his shoulders.
The three-time World Superbike champion has been tipped with a move to the premier class for years, and given his incredible talent, many are tipping him to be a success. But he could be in for a tough start as he joins Pramac Yamaha.
The Tuscany-based team finished last in 2025 as Yamaha struggled with the vastly uncompetitive YZR-M1. Transitioning to a V4 machine in 2026, it could give their riders the chance to fight more towards the front, but Razgatlioglu will have to adapt.
Is this the first sign of the value of moving from World Superbikes to MotoGP?
The 29-year-old has to get used to an entirely new bike, tyre, and team. Yamaha test rider Andrea Dovizioso has been ‘essential’ to Razgatlioglu and his preparations with his feedback behind the scenes.
Gino Borsoi says Razgatlioglu has one of Francesco Bagnaia’s ‘best’ traits in MotoGP with his aggressive braking. If he can utilise it on a MotoGP bike, it could be what makes him a success, and that would be a great thing for the sport.
Carmelo Ezpeleta says Toprak Razgatlioglu must avoid injury in his first MotoGP season
Razgatlioglu will be the first rider from Turkey ever to race in MotoGP. That is a hugely important step for the sport, as under Liberty Media’s ownership, they will want to expand its global audience and add more countries to the grid.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta thinks the Pramac rider will be ‘important’ for MotoGP, but he stressed that he must avoid getting injured in his debut season.
“He’s a good rider and has a great desire to do well,” he told Moto.IT. “I think the most important thing initially is to be lucky and not start with an injury. I think Toprak will have been an important rider for MotoGP.”
Is Jorge Martin the unluckiest rider in MotoGP?
It will be vital for Razgatlioglu to have an uninterrupted pre-season and keep himself fully fit. It is something that Jorge Martin could not do in 2025, suffering multiple crashes and injuries before the start of the season.
The Aprilia rider suffered fractures to his hands and feet in a crash at Sepang, before breaking his scaphoid during his recovery. Martin continued to struggle with injuries throughout the season, with fractured ribs in Qatar and a broken collarbone in Japan.
Even now, the Spaniard has not fully recovered, as Martin will miss testing at Sepang in 2026 after electing to have further surgeries. It is a fate that Razgatlioglu cannot afford to have ahead of his rookie season.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname
Carmelo Ezpeleta reiterates riders must honour their contract after 2025 drama
Quizzed on other MotoGP topics, Ezpeleta stressed again that riders must ‘honour’ the contracts they agree on. 2025 saw several instances of riders trying to get out of their contract, with Martin, Pedro Acosta and Enea Bastianini being notable examples.
Dorna blocked riders from breaking contracts, with Ezpeleta telling them to stick to the deals they signed. He reiterated that when he was asked about the rider market in 2026.
“I’m not very experienced in this type of thing and above all I have to have respect for what the manufacturers and the drivers have done,” he said. “My hope is that it goes well and I have no personal opinions.
“When we think about business and normal life, when you give your word and especially when you sign a contract, you have to honour it. Unless both parties have agreed not to continue.”
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