Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu finally got his first taste of Pirelli rubber on a prototype during a recent day of testing in Brno, and the Turkish rider reportedly noticed a welcome change ‘immediately’.
Following Marc Marquez’s triumph in the Czech Grand Prix on Sunday, the majority of the MotoGP grid stayed in Brno for the ensuing Pirelli tyre test.
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Only a select few riders from each brand were given the chance to clock in some laps on next year’s bike, due to the multitude of rider movements that are expected to take place in the coming weeks.
With Toprak Razgatlioglu being the only rider within Yamaha’s stable that will continue to ride for the Japanese constructor next year, he was given the opportunity to test his new 850cc bike alongside test rider Augusto Fernandez.
Razgatlioglu racing atop Pirelli tyres has been highly anticipated ever since his move to the premier class paddock was announced, and his first taste provided a noticeable change in his demeanour.
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Toprak Razgatlioglu was ‘immediately’ comfortable on Pirelli’s MotoGP tyres
Following the conclusion of the test, reports from the circuit indicated that the three-time World Superbikes title-winner had set the fourth fastest time of the day.
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Of course, there is more to a day of testing than lap times, but being just three-tenths off the benchmark that Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez set with Aprilia’s 2027-spec bike indicates that he has found some comfort on the new compound of tyres.
Speaking via his own YouTube channel, MotoGP journalist Rosario Triolo, who was present at the test in Brno, shed some more light on the Pramac rider’s testing programme.
“In the morning, the Yamaha didn’t perform particularly well, but that was only because they were trying to get everything sorted for the afternoon, when Toprak managed to get the very best out of the Yamaha,” he began.
“Toprak was very happy with the Pirelli tyres; he didn’t compare their DNA to that of the Pirelli Superbike tyres, they’re clearly not the same as the Superbike tyres – if only because of the size, as well as the stiffness of the carcass, to name just a couple of things.
“In any case, Toprak immediately felt very comfortable on these tyres, a sign that anyone coming from riding on Pirelli tyres will probably have an advantage.”
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While Razgatlioglu’s history of winning all three of his WSBK titles on Pirelli rubber bodes well for his chances next year, there will also be a swathe of other riders who already have experience with them on prototype machinery.
Pirelli have been the sole tyre supplier for Moto2 and Moto3 since the start of 2024, so Razgatlioglu’s fellow MotoGP rookie, Diogo Moreira, also has a history with the Italian manufacturer.
On top of Moreira, Izan Guevara and David Alonso are also expected to thrive by remaining atop the same brand of tyres next year, providing they do make the step up from the intermediate class to MotoGP.
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