The 2026 MotoGP season is already shaping up to be electric with the long-awaited arrival of Toprak Razgatlioglu at Yamaha, joining the Pramac team. After years of dominance in WorldSBK, the Turkish rider is finally making the leap at the age of 28. But this leap into the unknown raises as much excitement as it does questions.
The official announcement came as a bombshell. Soil leaves Superbike after winning five of his last six races and finishing outside the top two only twice in fifteen rounds. His talent is no longer in doubt. But MotoGP is a completely different challenge.
« It was not difficult to convince Toprak, as he saw Yamaha's commitment to MotoGP ", said Paolo Pavesio, Director of Yamaha , to GPOne. We are all aware of the risks, but we believe in them »
According to some rumors, Razgatlioglu would benefit from a contractual clause guaranteeing them the same parts and technical developments as the factory team drivers Yamaha . A measure already used with fabio quartararo to avoid internal inequalities. If this clause is confirmed, it could allow Soil to be competitive from the start.
Toprak Razgatlioglu in MotoGP is a fan's dream... but also a huge gamble
Soil has already tasted MotoGP during a test in April 2023, completing 116 laps on the Yamaha M1His times were promising, but he remained 7 tenths behind Cal Crutchlow (test pilot). Since then, no further official tests have been carried out.
The former world champion Jorge Lorenzo was quick to deliver his opinion. According to him, Soil should have chosen Honda, a motorcycle " more suited to his aggressive riding style " A tackle that echoes the criticisms addressed to Yamaha in recent seasons for their technological backwardness compared to Ducati et KTM.
The signing of Razgatlioglu in Pramac Yamaha casts doubt on the future of Jack Miller. Officially still under contract, his status remains unclear. A clause in the contract Miguel Oliveira could, however, rebalance things in the event of an unexpected departure or team recomposition.
The passage of Toprak Razgatlioglu en MotoGP is not a simple transfer. It is a full-scale test for Yamaha , who is playing big with this bet. His arrival could revive the image of the M1, but also expose its current limitations. If Soil manages to adapt quickly, he could become a serious outsider… or even more?
