[AMCN] Razgatlioglu poised for sensational Yamaha MotoGP switch

Turkish WorldSBK champion reportedly set to join Pramac Yamaha on full-factory machinery in 2026

After months of speculation, Toprak Razgatlioglu’s future destination could finally be settled. According to Speedweek, sources close to the Turkish superstar have confirmed that Toprak has signed a deal to step up to MotoGP with Yamaha in 2026—with an official announcement likely at next month’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello.

Razgatlioglu won BMW’s first ever WorldSBK crown in 2024

Manager Kenan Sofuoglu has also cryptically told Motoetkinlik.com that a deal had been inked, saying “With Toprak Razgatlioglu we have spoken with five factories and we have signed a contract that will satisfy everyone”.

The move will reportedly see Razgatlioglu placed within the satellite Pramac Yamaha team, which has been running full-factory-spec M1 machinery identical to what Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins are fielding in the factory garage. The Pramac team makes sense given Toprak’s previously stated stipulations that he would only move to MotoGP with full factory support, and with Yamaha showing clear signs of resurgence in MotoGP this season – highlighted by Quartararo’s poles at Jerez, Le Mans, and Silverstone. And his expertise with Pirelli tyres could prove invaluable in 2026, as MotoGP prepares for sweeping regulation changes in 2027, including a new 850cc engine formula, reduced aero allowances, and the introduction of Pirelli as the sport’s new sole tyre supplier.

There’s also a commercial benefit, with the arrangement allowing Toprak to bring his long-time sponsor Red Bull along for the journey. But while the move adds another electric presence to the grid, it also raises questions about who he might replace—particularly for Australian star Jack Miller.

Miller’s Pramac seat could be under threat

Miller, who joined the Pramac Yamaha outfit this season on a single-year deal extending only through the end of 2025, would be competing with Oliveira for the remaining Pramac seat. Should Toprak’s switch be made official at Mugello as expected, it could leave Miller scrambling to secure a MotoGP seat for 2026, or potentially moving to WorldSBK.

Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP debut would mark the first time since 2010 (when Ben Spies made the leap) that a World Superbike Champion transitions directly into the premier class. Few riders carry credentials as stacked as Toprak’s: in 237 WorldSBK starts, the 28-year-old has claimed 63 wins, 153 podiums, 20 poles, and 53 fastest laps. After failing to defend his SBK crown with Yamaha due to a lagging R1 development program, he shocked the paddock in 2024 by jumping to BMW—securing the German manufacturer’s first solo world championship title in its century-long history and sealing his place as the top-paid Superbike rider in the process.

Toprak celebrating his first WorldSBK title with Yamaha in 2021

While Toprak’s aggressive, swashbuckling riding style has turned heads in World Superbike, it remains to be seen how well it translates to the technical demands of MotoGP. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi offered a word of caution: “He could be someone who can fight for the top six in the championship. But I don’t think he can come to MotoGP and win straight away. Toprak is a showman—but the best riders here are the best.”

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