Toprak Razgatlioglu has admitted that he has been taken aback by the speed at which Yamaha engineers work behind the scenes.
Since Fabio Quartararo won the 2021 title, the Iwata outfit have struggled to produce a competitive bike. Yamaha have fallen behind in development and are struggling to catch the rest of the pack.
The team moved from an inline four engine to a V4 in 2026, but Yamaha admitted they were ’15 years behind’ with the project, and that has been showing on the track.
If Toprak Razgatlioglu wins a MotoGP title, where he would rank among the motorcycle racing greats?
He already has three World Superbike crowns
Toprak Razgatlioglu says Yamaha work ‘a little bit slow’ to improve the bike
Yamaha have been considerably off the pace in 2026, with their riders looking dejected and out of words to explain their problems. Razgatlioglu keeps saying he is losing ‘motivation’ on the YZR-M1 as he struggles at the back.
The Pramac rider has scored just 12 points thus far and is hoping to find improvements from the Yamaha. However, he admits that he has been ‘surprised’ by how long it takes to receive these improvements from the Japanese.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname
He said on the Yamaha Motor Europe YouTube channel: “The Japanese, the working, the complete details. They are working a little bit slow, but when they are come back, [they] did a really big job.
“I’m learning like this from [the] Japanese. OK, everyone works slow, but in the end, or maybe eight months, one year later, they are coming really strong because everyone [is] working hard and working [the] details and after we see the huge difference.
“For me, normally, I’m really surprised when I’m see this, the Japanese. Sometimes I’m talking with them in the Yamaha garage, they are always listening, getting the notes, but always surprised listening,
What grade would you give Toprak Razgatlioglu after the first half of his rookie season?
“I’m asking, ‘When [are] you changing something?’ They say, ‘Soon.’ ‘But when?’ ‘Maybe seven months.’ I’m surprised.
“But they are seven months later, come back, it’s incredible. The Japanese working, I love this.”
Razgatlioglu believes that he would be in the top five if he were on a ‘slightly better’ Yamaha. While he is confident in the manufacturer to produce strong packages, the timeframe could prove to be a major problem.
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