Marco Bezzecchi
Pramac rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu and his fellow Yamaha riders have now been joined by the rest of the 2026 MotoGP grid for the first pre-season test of the year in Sepang.
Razgatlioglu and his fellow Yamaha stable riders got to enjoy three additional days testing on the Japanese team’s new V4-engined YZR-M1 at the Sepang International Circuit during last week’s official shakedown test. Their rivals were only allowed to field rookies and test riders.
Yamaha were allowed to use their full-time riders throughout the Sepang shakedown test as they are the only manufacturer in concessions Rank D entering 2026. But pre-season testing for the 2026 season is now in full swing with the first full test in Malaysia from February 3-5.
A lot of the talk arriving in Sepang has been thanks to the reports that Fabio Quartararo is in talks to leave Yamaha to join Honda in 2027, with his contract in Iwata expiring this year. But testing in Malaysia has also seen Yamaha’s Ducati-influenced V4 bike for 2026 hit the circuit.
What does Toprak need to achieve in 2026 to join Yamaha’s 2027 factory line-up?
Yamaha have removed Toprak Razgatlioglu’s rear aero to avoid breaching MotoGP’s regulations
Yamaha have overhauled their aero package, as they switch from using an inline four engine to a V4 in the final year of the 1,000cc regulations. The Iwata natives appear to have taken a lot of influence from Ducati’s box-shaped front aero, having ditched their three-tiered wing.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname
The Japanese brand have also tweaked their rear aero, with a two-pronged tail that features vertical fins ahead of a box-shaped rear wing. But Yamaha have had to remove the rear aero from Razgatlioglu’s bike entirely to keep the Pramac rookie within the MotoGP regulations.
That is according to Simon Patterson of The Race, who notes that Razgatlioglu must run his Yamaha M1 without any rear aero as the Pramac rider is “so tall” that he would be in breach of MotoGP’s “bike height restrictions” with it. Razgatlioglu stands at a height of 185cm (6ft).
Yamaha have increased the ride height of Razgatlioglu’s bike “as much as possible” to make him comfortable on the M1 ahead of his rookie season for their satellite team, Pramac. The lack of rear aero is not a “huge” issue, whereas it would be if he ran without the front aero.
Toprak Razgatlioglu has been testing in Sepang with Yamaha’s 2025 front aero
Podiums, wins, titles? What is Toprak’s CEILING in MotoGP? 🤔
Along with Razgatlioglu not being able to use Yamaha’s new rear aero – or any rear aero on his M1 at all – the 29-year-old has also been testing with the Iwata outfit’s 2025-spec front aero on his bike in Sepang. He is still building his confidence on the M1 ahead of his debut.
Yamaha have finally lured Razgatlioglu onto the MotoGP grid on a two-year factory contract to race with Pramac after spending his career to date in the World Superbike Championship. The Turkish star won his third WSBK title in 2025 in his last act in the production bike series.
New Ducati WSBK rider Iker Lecuona has urged Razgatlioglu to be “more careful” in MotoGP after hearing some of the Alanya native’s predictions for his rookie campaign. Razgatlioglu is fully aware of the challenges that await him, but wants to fight at the front as soon as 2027.
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