Over the past few days in Sepang, one of the main attractions of the opening test of 2026 has been starting to gauge what Toprak Razgatlioglu should realistically aim to achieve in his rookie MotoGP season. After being tweaked and tested, those expectations now look different than they did before.
That’s not because of the obvious limitations of the new Yamaha M1, but because of the limitations of the Turkish rider himself, who got a harsh reality check in Malaysia.
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The Pramac rider finished 18th on the combined timesheets, nearly two seconds slower than Alex Marquez, the fastest rider on the three days, and eight tenths slower than Yamaha’s best representative, Alex Rins. His distance running speed isn’t much better. Apart from the now famous pause, one thing that must be praised about the rider from Alanya is his honesty and lack of excuses.
“I’m angry because the lap times are not there. I’m trying to adjust my riding style,” Razgatlioglu explained on Thursday afternoon. “Under braking I felt good and comfortable, but in fast corners I struggled. When I opened the throttle the rear tire started to slide and wouldn’t stop, which made cornering difficult.”
In order to bring his ride closer to the standard required of a MotoGP prototype, Toprak also requested certain changes to the bike, which in his opinion should ease the transition from a WorldSBK-spec Yamaha R1.
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Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
In addition to fitting wider handlebars, he also felt more comfortable relying more on the rear of the bike. However, this had other consequences: the increased distance between the lowest point of the seat and the maximum height that any part of the tail unit could reach meant that he had to take to the track many times without the rear winglets, resulting in a loss of aerodynamics.
“I’m riding the same way as before, but the lap times aren’t coming. In WorldSBK I was turning the rear tire, using the throttle. Now, in MotoGP you have to ride like Moto2 and accelerate very smoothly. Jack [Miller, his team-mate] Always told me I needed to be gentle, but that’s easier said than done,” said #07, who made no attempt to hide his frustration, especially considering the situation he found himself in just three months after celebrating his third world title.
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“It’s not easy for me to see myself so behind, especially after Superbike. The first five races are going to be tough; I’m going to suffer.”
Despite his disappointing performance in Sepang, the beginning of Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP story isn’t all that different from that of riders like him who made the jump from WorldSBK. On the horizon, the benchmark could be Ben Spies, who joined MotoGP full-time with Yamaha in 2010, a year after winning the Superbike title, and went on to score one grand prix win (Assen in 2011), six podiums and a fifth-place finish in the championship.
Razgatlioglu’s charisma is unquestionable and is well-received throughout the paddock. It only takes a brief conversation with anyone at Yamaha to realize how much hope has been placed on him.
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Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
“[Paolo] Pavesio [the managing director] “I’m in love with him,” is a phrase heard over and over again by those leaving the factory team garage. The bond between the Italian executive and the rookie goes way back, to the time they spent together in production-oriented championships. The bet bears Pavicio’s signature, although the dedication has caused some reservations among certain key figures within the structure.
In fact, with the rider market already boiling over, some are starting to look at Turk as a potential candidate for the 2027 factory Yamaha M1, along with Jorge Martin.
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At Pramac, his current team, the commitment to riders who are a joy to work with is just as strong. “Because he’s polite and a great guy,” stressed Gino Borsoy, manager of Paolo Campinotti’s team. But Razgatlioglu’s appeal isn’t limited to those who work with him every day; it extends to the entire MotoGP paddock.
“Toprak is a very fast rider, I have no doubt about that. I think he will eventually be competitive,” a Ducati executive said when asked about Razgatlioglu’s potential ceiling. “The thing is, he needs to go through a process of adapting to MotoGP and that has to happen at every level, not just riding. He comes from a championship level that is clearly below this. There are the best here and I think he has realized that these days.
“Like most riders, their environment can help or hinder this adjustment period. In his case, I feel like people have been telling him how great he is – and that’s probably true. But sometimes that doesn’t help, when you need to speak clearly and say things that might not sound nice.”
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Also read:
‘Angry’ Toprak Razgatlioglu loses momentum after poor performance at Sepang MotoGP test
Toprak Razgatlioglu: I may not be able to reach the MotoGP podium for the first time in 2026
Toprak Razgatlioglu hailed as ‘Casey Stoner 2.0’ ahead of MotoGP debut
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