Toprak Razgatlioglu He says he is ready for a “tough” first year in MotoGP in 2026 as he makes the transition from the World Superbike Championship at the age of 29.
The Turkish rider will make his highly anticipated debut in MotoGP next year with the four-time Grand Prix winner jack miller In the Pramac Yamaha team.
Razgatlioglu has enjoyed immense success since stepping into the WSBK in 2018 and is on course to clinch her third title in this weekend’s decider in Jerez.
However, due to Yamaha’s current lack of competitiveness and its own lack of experience with Grand Prix machinery, MotoGP is expected to present a much greater challenge.
In fact, many believe that Razgatlioglu will not be able to fully demonstrate his potential until 2027, when new regulations and the switch to Pirelli tires are expected to reset the playing field.
Razgatlioglu himself is realistic about the task ahead, saying he is willing to treat 2026 as a “learning year” as he gains momentum in MotoGP.
“It’s going to be a tough year for me,” he told Speedweek. “I’ve always won races or finished on the podium. It will be different in MotoGP. Next year I might only be able to finish in the top 10, or finish 12th or 14th.
“It won’t be easy to deal with. I’m willing to make my first year a year of learning. Even if I only finish 13th or 14th, I still have to focus on my work.
“Hopefully that way of thinking will help me a lot. I’m not expecting anything in the first year and I’ll just try to adjust to the bike and enjoy it.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
Photo by: Gold & Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
However, Razgatlioglu is encouraged by his immediate success with BMW in 2024 following his high-profile move from Yamaha.
He said, “When I signed for BMW, I saw my first year as a training year and wanted to be successful in the second – but then we managed to do it in the first year itself.”
“Maybe it will work the same way in MotoGP. Maybe I’ll start with like a training year and we’ll have a good position after five or six races.”
Yamaha is currently going through a tough time in MotoGP with the factory rider Fabio Quartararo Recently accepted this It has not taken any “major steps” since last November’s post-season testing In Barcelona.
The Iwata-based brand is currently at the bottom of the constructors’ rankings, but is hoping to regain some position after switching to V4 engines next year.
Meanwhile, Ducati continues to go from strength to strength in MotoGP, having already taken all three championships this season.
Razgatlioglu faced a similar situation in WSBK after his first championship in 2021, when Ducati started to dominate Japanese brands like Kawasaki and Yamaha.
“For me, it’s quite simple: every MotoGP rider coming into this paddock will have great difficulty unless they are on a Ducati,” he said.
Excluding his title-winning years, Razgatlioglu has raced with the #54 plate on WSBK. However, this number will be unavailable to him fermin aldeguerDebut this year with Gresini Ducati.
Although Razgatlioglu has not directly confirmed it, it is likely that he will switch to the #7 that he used in the early years of his racing career.
“Unfortunately, it is impossible for me to use #54,” he admitted. “Firmin has been racing with that number since Moto2, he even has it tattooed on his arm.
“Sometimes money can make a difference, but in this case it doesn’t.
“I have another favorite number. Not #1. I like #54, but I had another number that I used in the first race of my sports career. I would probably use that one. If you look at old photos, you’ll see it.”
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