There are many talented drivers, now as in the past. But some stand out for their courage and extraordinary ability to ride motorbikes. One of them is definitely Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, World Champion WorldSBK 2021 riding the Yamaha Pata. Over the seasons the Turk has shown that he can overthrow a legend of the production-derived championship like Jonathan Rea, winning the title after an era of Kawasaki domination. Before moving to BMW, there was a period, precisely in the summer of 2022, where Razgatlıoğlu seemed to be close to moving to MotoGP with Yamaha. It was thought to be a realistic hypothesis given the unsatisfactory conditions and performances of Lin Jarvis’ team. The matter, however, was not all sunshine and rainbows.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: “Yamaha wasn’t planning on taking me to MotoGP”
The first test in June 2022 in Aragón, then a second in the spring of 2023 on the Jerez circuit. It is precisely the latter that did not satisfy the twenty-seven year old.
There was already discussion about the driving position before the test. Usually in Yamaha there are three different saddles. But when I got to the test, the bike was the same as before. I just did my rounds. I didn’t have many tires available. I actually didn’t want to continue riding after the first day. I spoke to Kenan Sofuoglu and he told me that I should show respect to Yamaha and continue. All young drivers have a dream. Sooner or later they want to ride a MotoGP prototype. I was able to experience it, which makes me very happy. But anyway It wasn’t part of Yamaha’s plans to let me enter MotoGP.
Razgatlıoğlu, the revelation one year after the test
They didn’t want the new contract and that’s why we started talks with BMW. I signed with BMW and I’m very happy now. It was a new challenge for me and I am more motivated than before.
Who knows what, given BMW’s great interest in participating in the MotoGP championship in the near future, it might lead Toprak Razgatlıoğlu really to get on a motorcycle world championship prototype.
Damiano Cavallari
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