The month of June was very hot for the riders’ market, there were several important announcements in the MotoGP paddock. But the World Superbike market also made people talk, especially when Kenan Sofuoglu announced that Toprak Razgatlioglu wants to move to MotoGP in 2025 despite a contract with BMW that is also valid for next year. The rider confirmed what his manager-mentor said and now it’s a question of understanding if he will really have the chance to make the leap he so desires.
Superbike, BMW to release Razgatlioglu?
BMW has invested a lot in the Superbike project and with Razgatlioglu it is finally winning, after difficult years. He is at the top of the riders’ standings and can dream of winning the title, interrupting the Bautista-Ducati domination. And triumphing once is certainly not enough for the Munich company, which will eventually want to repeat itself in 2025.
Sofuoglu made it clear that there is the possibility of freeing himself from the contract with BMW, but that without the green light from the latter there will be no move to MotoGP. There is no desire to use the contractual “loophole” to break the signed agreement, at least in theory.
Toprak in MotoGP: incognita team
Razgatlioglu had stated that Kenan was talking to three different MotoGP brands. He definitely won’t race a Yamaha. Alex Rins will remain in the Monster Energy factory team, whose expiring contract will be renewed; while as far as Pramac Racing is concerned, the owner Paolo Campinoti he clearly ruled out hiring the Turk: “It’s just gossip – he told the official MotoGP website – and 100% it won’t come“.
He won’t even ride a Ducati from the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team, the team manager said in Assen Pablo Nieto: “He is very fast in Superbike – he responded to MotoGP.com – and he could do a good job here too, but we have several names on the table for next season and at the moment he is not our idea“.
Instead Michele MasiniGresini team manager, when asked specifically by Sky Sport MotoGP did not rule out the hypothesis: “We don’t feel like excluding anyone, we evaluate everyone. We always want the most motivated rider, that’s what we need to make the difference with a package like ours“. Meanwhile, Nadia Padovani’s team has renewed with Alex Marquez until 2026. For the second Ducati Desmosedici we are talking above all about Jack Miller, but surprises cannot be ruled out.
Photo: BMW
