Toprak Razgatlioglu to join MotoGP in 2026

After years of ‘will he, won’t he’ speculation, it’s finally been confirmed that Toprak Razgatlioglu will race in MotoGP. The 28-year-old from Turkey, currently riding for ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), will join the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team in 2026 on a two-year deal. Who ‘El Turco’ will replace at Prima Pramac - Jack Miller or Miguel Oliveira - had not been revealed at time of writing.

While several riders have made the switch from Grand Prix racing to World Superbikes, it’s become increasingly rare for it to happen the other way round.  Of the current MotoGP grid, all have come through the Moto2 (nee 250cc) and Moto3 (nee 125cc) junior grand prix categories. The last rider to move directly from WorldSBK to grand prix racing’s premier class was Cal Crutchlow in 2011. Prior to him, the likes of Ben Spies, Chris Vermeulen, Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss also made the switch after success in WorldSBK.

Razgatlioglu has tested Yamaha’s YZR-M1, most recently in 2023, so he won’t come to Prima Pramac Yamaha as a complete rookie. He’ll most likely take part in this year's MotoGP post-season test, ahead of the full 2026 pre-season test program.

Speaking at the Emilia-Romagna WorldSBK round, Razgatlioglu was enthusiastic about joining MotoGP, but added he’ll be sad to leave World Superbikes.

 “It has always been my dream to race in MotoGP, and I’m very excited that this dream is now coming true,” Razgatlioglu said. “Saying goodbye to BMW Motorrad Motorsport won’t be easy, though. I’m very grateful for the time we’ve had together. From the very first test, I felt at home, and as a team, we’ve achieved great things.”

Paolo Pavesio, Managing Director at Yamaha Motor Racing, knows Razgatlioglu from when he was with the factory Yamaha team in WorldSBK from 2020 to 2023, so is looking to 2026, too.

"We are thrilled to welcome Toprak back into the Yamaha family,” Pavesio said.

"His fighting spirit and determination are a perfect fit for both the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team and Yamaha's bold MotoGP strategy, so we believe 2026 is the right time to make the move that many fans have been waiting for."