Given his contractual situation with Yamaha and in view of a requirement for a project only developed with a factory team formulated by his manager Kenan Sofuoglu, there is no chance of seeing Toprak Razgatlioglu enter MotoGP on the horizon. 2023. However, there are still theoretically 10 places to be formalized out of the 22 motorcycles available for next year. We will therefore re-study the question for 2024, but the Turkish clan specifies that at this deadline, it will be able to discuss with all the manufacturers...
Toprak Razgatlioglu remains a center of interest for MotoGP. For the mention on his passport, no doubt, but also because the World Champion WSBK in title intrigue. He is up to Max Biaggi to say that “ Toprak introduced something different with his spectacular style ". Superbike benefits from it, but MotoGP would like to see it. Razgatlioglu tested the M40 in Aragon for 1 laps alongside Cal Crutchlow and the comments on this first contact remained quite confidential.
But the official Yamaha will have plenty of time to think about this test since it will not impact his future in the short term. Kenan Sofuoglu, his manager, recalls the situation: “ Yamaha already made us an offer for the customer team, but I made it clear to them that we were not interested “, declared the multiple retired Superport World Champion at the time. In the meantime, this possibility has disappeared anyway, because the team RNF Racing defected to Aprilia et Yamaha will only use both factory machines in 2023.
« If Toprak Razgatlioglu comes to MotoGP then it will only be with a factory team«
We must therefore already think about 2024, a vintage which will redistribute the cards. It will in fact allow Sofuoglu to look for opportunities outside the camp Yamaha ... " We will talk to all manufacturers in MotoGP for 2024 » he warns now. “ But this still applies to the fact that Toprak will not move to a B team. If he comes to this paddock, then it will only be with a factory team. Otherwise, he remains in the World Superbike Championship. I now put my drivers in factory teams ».
That being said, with this condition of a factory handlebar, Kenan the terrible crosses Ducati, KTM, Honda and Aprilia from the list of possibilities. Indeed, these emblems already have loyal drivers until 2024 while their future teammates will undoubtedly see their new lease extend until then. It is therefore potentially still with Yamaha that the discussion will begin.
It will be recalled that the manufacturer is locked by a contract with Franco Morbidelli who is assured of his place as a team member fabio quartararo until 2023. So far, the Italian has done little to warrant a contract extension. In the first eleven races of the current season, he has scored only 25 championship points and is only 19th overall. It only entered the top ten in the rain in Indonesia.
