A historic moment for Turkish motorsport and for Toprak Razgatlioglu himself: The three-time Superbike World Champion was officially introduced this Tuesday as Pramac-Yamaha‘s MotoGP rider for the 2026 season.
This step fulfills a long-held dream for the 29-year-old, and at the same time marks the beginning of one of the most exciting chapters in his successful career.
“The dream has finally come true”
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Razgatlioglu was correspondingly emotional during his presentation. The Turk emphasized that it was “a very special moment” for him, not only personally, but also for his home country: “The dream has finally come true.”
Standing in the leathers of a MotoGP team for the first time and seeing the final design of the motorcycle was also a highlight for him. “I had this really big dream of MotoGP and now I’m finally here,” said the Turk happily.
Switching to Pramac-Yamaha was the right decision for him, “because the team and all the people here are really very welcoming.” He immediately felt comfortable. His promise to Pramac and the fans is clearly stated: “I will give my best every race weekend.”
First impressions of the MotoGP Yamaha
Even before the official presentation, Razgatlioglu was able to test the new Yamaha M1 with a V4 engine. His impressions were mostly positive.
However, the difference to the Superbike World Championship is enormous, he explained. “It’s a completely different bike. Above all, the acceleration is incredible. And it’s really fast on the straight. I’ll need time to get used to the bike and I still have a lot to learn,” said the rookie.
The tires in particular presented a big challenge as he still had to feel and get to know their limits. However, he is positive about the extensive test plan: “In Malaysia we have a six-day test. And I hope we find a way to understand the motorcycle and adapt.”
Basically, he sees the team ready for 2026, even if it will be “a tough season” for him personally. Because the switch from the Superbike World Championship to MotoGP is extremely demanding. “Everything feels different, but I’ll do my best.”
Focus on Malaysia and learning process
Razgatlioglu’s hope lies in the said Malaysia test. He expects significant progress there, not least because Yamaha will bring new components.
At the same time, he emphasized: “This is my first year and we have to try a lot of things because when I ride Superbike everything is easy, but MotoGP is something completely different, especially the tires. But we have time and I will test everything and try to find the way to ride fast.”
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