Marco Bezzecchi
Pramac racer Toprak Razgatlioglu has had a difficult start to his MotoGP career, but Francesco Guidotti does not believe he is at a “disadvantage” due to Yamaha’s bike.
Three-time World Superbike champion Razgatlioglu made his MotoGP debut with Pramac in the 2026 season-opening Thailand Grand Prix. But the issues that Yamaha are enduring with their new V4-engined YZR-M1 this term left the Turkish rider fighting at the rear of the field.
Razgatlioglu was fighting to be the top Yamaha rider in the Sprint Race in Buriram before he crashed out of P15 with two laps remaining while battling Pramac teammate Jack Miller. The 29-year-old came P17 in the Thailand GP, ahead of Miller but third out of the Yamaha riders.
Honda rival Luca Marini thinks Razgatlioglu might have to wait until 2027 to “have fun”, too, as the Alanya native is having to learn a very different bike to the machines he rode in WSBK in the final year of MotoGP’s 1,000cc regulations. He also has to learn a host of new circuits.
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Francesco Guidotti thinks Toprak Razgatlioglu has debuted in MotoGP with the ‘perfect’ team in Pramac
Razgatlioglu admitted during pre-season testing this February that his motivation was “going down” owing to his difficulties finding speed with the Yamaha M1 after dominating in World Superbikes. He is having to adapt his braking style to suit the M1, as well as Michelin’s tyres.
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Yet Guidotti does not believe Razgatlioglu is at a “disadvantage” debuting in MotoGP on the Yamaha M1. Instead, the Turkish rider has made his move to MotoGP in the “perfect” team with Pramac, as he is in the ideal setting to make a strong transition from World Superbikes.
Guidotti told SPEEDWEEK: “I don’t see it as a disadvantage that Toprak is making his way as a rookie with Yamaha. It’s about much more than just the bike.
“The right environment is crucial at this stage. A team with experience, but also a lot of feel for the bike, and I think he’s found the perfect fit in that regard.”
Francesco Guidotti thinks Toprak Razgatlioglu knows he ‘couldn’t expect more’ at Pramac Yamaha
Guidotti even believes that Razgatlioglu should not have expected to achieve anything more on debut in the Thailand GP than the Pramac rider managed. He took the chequered flag in Buriram with a 6.239s deficit to works Yamaha ace Alex Rins in the final points-paying place.
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“From my perspective, Toprak has done very well,” Guidotti said. “As a newcomer, you couldn’t realistically expect more. His learning process is undeniable, even though he can’t use most of what he’s internalised over the years in MotoGP.
“Everyone knows it, Toprak too. A MotoGP bike has absolutely nothing to do with a Superbike. He experiences that on the track.”
Only Miller and Ducati test rider Michele Pirro whilst standing in with Gresini for the injured Fermin Aldeguer finished the Thailand GP behind Razgatlioglu. Miller suffered from extreme tyre wear in Buriram, which helped Razgatlioglu get in front before his tyres started to fade.
The factory Yamaha duo of Fabio Quartararo and Rins in P14 and P15 suffered less with tyre wear in the Thailand GP than the Pramac pair of Razgatlioglu and Miller. Razgatlioglu will be hoping to make strides in managing his Michelin tyres at the Brazilian Grand Prix this week.
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