Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu has opened up on the struggles he experienced during his first test of the 2026 premier class season, likening them to the difficulties he faced at the beginning of his career in World Superbikes.
As an already established three-time world champion in World Superbikes, Toprak Razgatlioglu’s debut season in MotoGP is one of the most highly anticipated rookie campaigns in recent years.
However, the Turkish rider has struggled to adapt to the prototype machinery in the limited amount of testing he has already done, which is to be expected, considering the difference in regulations that he was used to in WSBK.
Razgatlioglu has appeared to be a bit downtrodden because of it, and is finding it difficult to replicate the same calibre of riding that Pramac teammate Jack Miller is achieving.
Where do you think Toprak Razgatlioglu will finish on his MotoGP debut?
Toprak Razgatlioglu opens up on the struggles he is experiencing in MotoGP transition
During an interview with NTV Spor, the three-time World Superbikes title-winner opened up on the struggles he is currently experiencing in MotoGP by comparing it to his debut campaign in the production motorcycles racing category.
He began by highlighting the slow start of compatriot Bahattin Sofuoglu in WSBK last year, noting that he expects the young Turk’s results to improve this season.
Razgatlioglu said, “It will be very difficult for Bahattin too, but I believe that once he gets used to it, he will be just like us. Because I was like Bahattin in 2018. In 2019, some things started to change. I went to the factory team and won the world championship.
“I hope the same thing will happen for Bahattin because we talk to him from time to time. He tells me he feels the same way. He says, ‘Bro, it’s really fast, I’m braking, I’m holding the line, I’m leaning it over, but I’m not getting the lap time.’
“I was going through the same thing in 2018. What I’m experiencing in MotoGP now is exactly what I experienced in 2018. Sometimes that’s how it goes. That’s why I say I’m not getting 1:57s in the test with MotoGP, even though I’m doing such a good lap.
“It’s very different coming into the back straight. I think I’m getting to the mid-57s, but I pass 59. Do you know what then happens automatically? You just crash. Your motivation drops. Because my expectation is different from the times you see as 2 seconds slower. Seeing that really drops my motivation.”
Yamaha chief Paolo Pavesio told Razgatlioglu that his honeymoon period is now over after the 29-year-old previously voiced his concerns over his lap times in Sepang affecting his motivation.
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Toprak Razgatlioglu is having to adapt his riding style massively to suit MotoGP
Standing at just over six feet tall, Razgatlioglu is now the tallest member of the MotoGP grid, which has its own limitations.
As well as the obvious riding style changes that the Alanya-born rider has had to make, Razgatlioglu has also had to adapt to the way he actually sits on a prototype compared to his highly successful WSBK bikes.
Due to him being so tall, Yamaha have had to remove Razgatlioglu’s rear aero in order to save him from being in breach of MotoGP’s regulations.
It is understood that no other rider on the grid has had to succumb to this rule, meaning that the 29-year-old will have the only bike in the Yamaha stable to not feature a rear wing.
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