Toprak Razgatlioglu will make his long-awaited move to MotoGP in 2026 as he signs with Pramac Yamaha from World Superbikes.
The Turkish rider’s move to the premier class has been met with huge excitement among riders and fans. With two World Superbike titles and potentially a third in 2025, he will certainly be a rider to watch when he enters the MotoGP paddock next year.
Razgatlioglu has been speaking to Marc Marquez with private phone calls, telling the Ducati rider he is ‘looking forward’ to fighting with him on the track. The 28-year-old wants to be competitive straight away when he steps onto his machine with Pramac.
Not only is Razgatlioglu a serious talent who will cause a stir in MotoGP, but he also brings great commercial value to the sport. He has a massive fanbase in Turkey, which will be delightful news for new owners Liberty Media, who will be looking to expose the championship to new audiences.
Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has outlined Liberty’s ‘incredible’ plans for MotoGP, after recently completing their takeover. The American company are looking to replicate their success with F1 in the premier class and improve the global market, and Razgatlioglu is a big step towards that.
As per a report from GPOne, the Turkish rider is the ‘only coup’ of the MotoGP rider market. With Dorna preventing the likes of Jorge Martin, Pedro Acosta and Enea Bastianini from breaking their contracts, there is not expected to be much movement for 2026.
Riders out of contract in 2025TeamFranco MorbidelliVR46Jack MillerPramacJohann ZarcoLCR HondaSomkiat ChantraLCR Honda
But Yamaha’s swoop for Razgatlioglu gives MotoGP another talented rider and a ‘new passport’ to add to the grid. As aforementioned, his move to Pramac exposes the premier class to a new audience in Turkey, which Liberty will be desperate to see in a championship ‘dominated by Spaniards and Italians’.
On the current grid, more than half of the full-time riders hail from Spain or Italy. This ‘certainly won’t please’ Liberty as they look to attract a more global market, making Razgatlioglu’s arrival an even stronger coup for Yamaha.
READ MORE:Â Everything to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty ImagesSpanish and Italian riders have been dominating MotoGP championships – could Toprak Razgatlioglu break that streak?
MotoGP has been dominated by Spain and Italy for years. In fact, since the turn of the century, only five riders from outside those two nations have won the championship.
Americans Kenny Roberts Jr and Nicky Hayden won in 2000 and 2006 respectively – Valentino Rossi won five titles in between then – while Aussie talent Casey Stoner won in 2007 and 2011. Frenchman Fabio Quartararo ended a streak of nine Spanish victories by winning for Yamaha in 2021.
Liberty will certainly want to see more champions from other countries, but with Marquez’s current form, it will be difficult to dethrone him. Many in MotoGP believe Razgatlioglu will win races when he arrives; he could be the rider to end Spain and Italy’s reign.
Of course, it will be difficult at first, given the uncertainty surrounding Yamaha’s V4 bike that they plan to introduce in 2026. Razgatlioglu may struggle to adapt at Pramac initially, but his talent and potential in the sport are unquestionable.