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Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: MotoGP bike is crucial, awaiting 2027 overhaul
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu said Yamaha's bike is slower than rivals in his debut MotoGP season, but the 2027 regulation changes will boost their chances. He also noted his 'El Turco' bike is on display at the BMW museum.
National motorcyclist Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, who won the Superbike World Championship in 2021, 2024 and 2025 and is this season the first Turkish rider to compete in MotoGP with the Prima Pramac Yamaha team, spoke to an AA correspondent.
Razgatlıoğlu, who has collected 12 points up to the German round in his debut MotoGP season, said the following while evaluating his bike's current state:
We've won the Superbike championship three times, won many races, and had the Turkish national anthem played many times. MotoGP is very different, it's like Formula 1. The Yamaha we are racing is currently a bit slower than the other brands in MotoGP. They are in development now, working on new projects. We came here knowing this. We expected the first season to go like this. As a winning rider, we still find it hard despite that knowledge.
Focuses on 2027 rule overhaul
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu drew attention to the major regulation change coming to MotoGP in 2027. The national athlete said that when the bike isn't good, the rider can't make an extra difference, and spoke as follows:
My hands are tied, I can't do anything. It's really like Formula 1. Just like Red Bull was very good two or three years ago and then McLaren became great, in MotoGP you can be ahead if your bike is good. In 2027, all the rules and everything are changing in MotoGP. Our target is actually the 2027 season. We'll move from 1000cc to 850cc. The tyres will change, and we'll have a bike more suited to us. We are very hopeful about that. We think it will be much better.
Razgatlıoğlu stressed that despite his intense preparation, the bike and tyres don't allow it, adding, "I push incredibly hard in races but you can't make an extra difference."
'El Turco' pride at BMW museum
Recalling that he won his first Superbike championship with Yamaha in 2021, Toprak noted that he achieved an unexpected championship with BMW in 2024. The national motorcyclist said that at the time everyone told him "You'll end your career", and continued:
When we won the championship with BMW, we achieved a championship no one believed in and everyone was surprised. This gave us a big plus, we became a legend for the brand. When you go to Germany, our motorcycle is in the BMW museum. The championship-winning bike has 'El Turco' written on the back, and there is a Turkish flag too. People still tag me when they visit the museum and share stories in front of the bike. Even Marc Marquez doesn't call me Toprak, he calls me 'El Turco'.
Podium is the goal, not points
When reminded of his 12 points collected so far this MotoGP season, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu said, "Points mean nothing to someone who has won championships." Noting his pride in scoring his first points ahead of all Yamaha bikes at the race in America, Razgatlıoğlu said, "For it to have a special place in MotoGP for me, we need to get on the podium."
The national athlete expressed his belief that if Yamaha develops its bike next season, they will have a much better season, and stressed that their goals in MotoGP continue. Razgatlıoğlu said that overall he is not satisfied with his performance in his first season, and that he is doing extra training to improve.
Special grandstand to be set up in Austria
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu announced that a special grandstand will be set up for him by Red Bull at the Austrian MotoGP round in September, saying, "I'm very happy. I hope we will fill it. In Superbike, whenever I came first, Turkish flags were always visible. I miss those moments. There is an organization being set up at the back, a space with Turkish cuisine. We look forward to welcoming everyone."
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