Yamaha managers Paolo Pavesio and Massimo Meregalli speak highly of Toprak Razgatlioglu – But no decision has been made yet
Will Superbike star Toprak Razgatlioglu switch to MotoGP in the near future? It’s one of the big questions currently occupying the motorcycle racing scene. He himself has made his intentions known. Rumors link him primarily with Honda and Yamaha.
Razgatlioglu became Superbike world champion with Yamaha in 2021. After two more years in which he was beaten by Alvaro Bautista’s Ducati, he moved to BMW – and immediately became world champion again in 2024.
Razgatlioglu has tested Yamaha’s MotoGP bike twice. The first time was in Aragon in the summer of 2022, but bad weather prevented him from completing many laps. In the spring of 2023, there was another test in Jerez, which proved to be unpromising for both sides.
The bond between Yamaha and Razgatlioglu seemed to have been severed at the latest with his move to BMW, but that is not currently the case. The 28-year-old is highly praised by Yamaha managers.
“Over the years, we have built up a good relationship through our collaboration,” Yamaha director Paolo Pavesio told MotoGP.com. Before taking over from Lin Jarvis in the MotoGP project, Pavesio was in the Superbike World Championship paddock.
That’s why he knows Razgatlioglu so well. “The world championship title remains an absolute highlight for me personally,” emphasizes Pavesio. “He is still the most successful Superbike rider in Yamaha’s history.”
“It’s a positive, very respectful relationship that continues,” he said, leaving all doors open. Nevertheless, Pavesio emphasized during the Le Mans weekend that it was still too early for concrete talks about the future.
“We are happy with our lineup – very happy,” said Pavesio. ”We are focusing on the riders who are riding for us this year. We are fully focused on providing them with the best possible motorcycle.”
Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, and Miguel Oliveira are also under contract with Yamaha for 2026. Only Jack Miller is currently confirmed for the current season. This would theoretically give Yamaha room for one more rider.
Yamaha team manager Massimo Meregalli, who raced in the Superbike World Championship and Supersport World Championship in the 1990s, also had words of praise for Razgatlioglu. In 1997, Meregalli won his only race in the Supersport World Championship at Misano.
“What Toprak can do is incredible,” Meregalli praised in an interview with Motorsport.com Spain, ”Toprak certainly has the potential to ride a MotoGP bike.”
“We know him because he was a Yamaha rider, he has done tests with us and done well. But for me, it’s still too early to say anything.” Yamaha has not commented specifically on the possibility of a joint MotoGP future with Razgatlioglu.
The Turkish rider himself remained tight-lipped during the Superbike World Championship in Most, referring to his manager Kenan Sofuoglu: “My future is still open because Kenan is still talking to a few brands. But we’ll see – maybe we’ll know more in a week or two.”
