Non the interview that Toprak Razgatlioglu gave us on Thursday in Misano, the Turkish talent was clear: “My future? I’ll try again with MotoGP”. As always, his words were not spoken at random. MotoGP is in his future but contrary to what many might have thought Toprak is unlikely to get there with BMW.
In fact, it seems that they are on the table of his manager Kenan Sofuoglu Three proposals have arrived from companies involved in MotoGP, and all for 2025. We are not surprised that the managers of the premier class of the world championship took notice of Razgatlioglu, if anything We’re surprised that they only noticed it now.
The Alanya rider will turn 27 in October, the right age to change category. That his and Sofuoglu’s objective was a quick arrival in MotoGP became clear at the end of last year, when the Turkish manager knocked on all the doors of the world championship houses, without however receiving convincing answers.
Kenan also stated that “We talked to Ducati, but they are not interested in Toprak”. Not to mention Yamaha, which just to give him a sop, organized that senseless test in Aragon in which he was not allowed not only to try different tires, but not even to move the seat of the M1. As if that wasn’t enough, some time later Lin Jarvis declared that in light of what was seen in the test (??) Toprak was not yet ready for the premier class.
Well it seems that among the three proposals received by Kenan, one is from the Iwata house, who evidently changed his mind. Hallelujah, better late than never. As for the other two, one is from Honda while at the moment it is not known whether the third was sent by Aprilia or Ducati (obviously to place Toprak in a satellite team).
Contrary to what has appeared in some media at the moment no decision has been made, not even to leave Superbike and BMW. A clause in the contract stipulated with the Bavarian giant provides that the 2021 SBK world champion can be released in case he receives a proposal from the MotoGP world. There are actually three proposals and the intention of both the pilot and the manager to start their new adventure as soon as possible is clear, which is precisely why we think that one of these three proposals can be accepted.
The German manufacturer will probably enter MotoGP in 2027 with a bike compliant with the new regulations, but by then Toprak will be 31 years old.
Considering that it will presumably take him a year or two before he is competitive, this would mean that the Turkish driver could be fighting for the positions that count at the age of 33. A bit too much, even for a talent like him.
