Marco Bezzecchi
Toprak Razgatlioglu was reportedly the fourth-fastest rider in MotoGP’s private 2027 test on Monday.
While his position in the leaderboard was eye-catching given that he has mostly raced in the lower midfield this year – Razgatlioglu hasn’t finished a race higher than 11th and has only made one Q2 appearance – the lap time offers most encouragement.
The lap times are unofficial because the test was held behind closed doors, but Sky Italy say he set a 1.54.2 – only 1.6 seconds off his Q1 pace from the Czech Grand Prix.
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The leaked Brno test times show that every other rider in the top six was two to three seconds adrift of their qualifying benchmark. This is the first hint that, relatively speaking, Yamaha have made a bigger leap.
Of course, there are caveats. Some teams were running 850cc prototypes, while others simply adapted their current machinery to simulate next year’s regulations.
Run plans will also differ across manufacturers, but Sky note that Yamaha ‘seemed closer to the European manufacturers’ than they have been this season.
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It will be easier to draw conclusions once further tests have taken place with more developed bikes, but Razgatlioglu has struggled for motivation this year after sacrificing a top World Superbikes ride. He needs cause for optimism, and he found it on Monday.
It’s been clear for years that the 2027 regulation changes present the best opportunity for Yamaha and Honda to fight for victories again. MotoGP’s two most successful teams have been left behind in the current ruleset.
For Razgatlioglu, who will continue at Pramac rather than joining the factory team, it’s not just about the new technical regulations. The sport will also switch from Michelin tyres to Pirelli, harking back to his WSBK days.
Razgatlioglu has repeatedly made it clear that he sees 2026 as a transition season before he can chase headline results on what he hopes will be a more competitive bike that suits his riding style.
Yamaha have also made short-term sacrifices this year and are prioritising 2027 development. As far as they’re concerned, the V4 era will begin in earnest next season.
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