From WSBK to his first MotoGP point in Austin, the impressive rise of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu

Slightly outclassed during winter testing and the start of the 2026 season MotoGPWhile initially disappointed with his early lap times, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu now seems to have found his footing in the premier class. Although transitioning from a production bike with steel brakes and Pirelli tires in WSBK to a racing prototype with carbon brakes and Michelin tires in MotoGP is a significant challenge, the Turk is handling the transition masterfully. This is hardly surprising for the Alanya (Turkey) native, who dominated his previous category, Superbike, on two different machines (Yamaha in 2021 and BMW in 2024 and 2025).

Establishing himself as the top Yamaha machine on the Circuit of the Americas, the Pramac rider secured the final opportunity at the 2026 United States Grand Prix. I'm giving it my all, as usual. he told the official channel. I finally scored my first point in MotoGP, although I usually aim for better. "Toprak Razgatlıoğlu scored his first point on the last bike on the grid, the M1 usually being at the back of the pack on Sundays.

A lightning adaptation

Since the start of his rookie season in MotoGP, the three-time WSBK champion has not been content to just make up the numbers, dominating his teammate Jack Miller at every Grand Prix, with an average pace that was one-tenth of a second faster over the first three races of the season.

In the Brazilian rain, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu also secured third position in the tests on the Goiânia circuit, demonstrating that he has nothing to envy from the veterans of the discipline in delicate conditions when the driver makes more of a difference than the machine.

From the comparison with fabio quartararoHe also has nothing to be ashamed of. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu is only two-tenths of a second behind the 2021 MotoGP world champion in average race pace on the same machine, even though he has just made his debut in the premier class. I learned a lot today by following Fabio. Towards the end, I tried to overtake him. I finished fifteenth with one point in the championship. That's the positive., he rejoiced. But we need to learn and improve for the European tour. »

All this on a course renowned for being very demanding, where several of the favorites were caught out over the weekend. It's a very difficult circuit for everyone, but I love it when I'm driving on it.he told the official channel after the race. Very complicated for all drivers, especially over twenty laps. "A circuit which he did not know, nor the other two tracks he drove on at the start of the 2026 season.

From WSBK to MotoGP

The next MotoGP round will nevertheless be held on a more familiar track, at Jerez de la Frontera, a venue shared with WSBK. I'll do my best at Jerez. The last time I raced there was in Superbike. I hope to adapt quickly to riding a MotoGP bike there."

By comparison, Nicolò Bulega, his main rival in WSBK, also finished fifteenth in the two Grands Prix where he replaced an injured Marc Márquez, scoring those two points on the best bike on the grid. The Italian was also eight-tenths of a second behind his teammate Francesco Bagnaia, maintaining an average race pace.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu has thus made a highly promising debut in MotoGP. It now remains to be seen what the Turk will offer on circuits he knows like the back of his hand. While the transition may not be the most straightforward, others before him have successfully made it, such as Max Biaggi, two-time WSBK champion and thirteen-time winner in 500cc/MotoGP, or Troy Bayliss, three-time WSBK champion and winner of one MotoGP race. This should certainly encourage him in his endeavor.

After having outrageously dominated the WSBK for several years (21 wins in 2025 alone, the scene of his third title, including 13 consecutive ones) and although he currently occupies only twentieth position in the championship, could Toprak Razgatlıoğlu become the best Yamaha on the grid in Europe, where Quartararo largely dominated his teammates in the past?

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