Yamaha has formally confirmed that the Turkish rider will get the opportunity in 2022 as a step to evaluate a potential move to MotoGP earlier-than-planned.
“At the end of the season and Jerez test, we planned a test for him and then Indonesia organised the last Superbike race and he had to fly over there.
“But this year, the [MotoGP-WorldSBK] calendars mean we have to find a day that would suit both calendars.
“We have a schedule already and there are two possibilities; one is in August and the other one maybe in June. As soon as we are ready, then we will decide the right moment together,” explained Yamaha Factory Team Manager, Massimo Meregalli.
Razgatlioglu helped deliver Yamaha its first WorldSBK title after 12 long years in an epic battle with 6-time WorldSBK champion, Jonathan Rea at Mandalika Circuit.
Yamaha had planned to allow Razgatlioglu to test out the M1 before the start of MotoGP official test however, the change of date for the final round at Indonesia scuppered those plans.
Now it looks like the 25-year-old will finally given the chance mid-2022 before proceeding to promote him a MotoGP seat in 2023.
The 2021 WorldSBK Champion has spoken, Toprak Razgatlioglu will make his MotoGP debut in 2023.
After much speculation about his future, the 25-year-old Turkish rider has confirmed that he will make the jump to MotoGP in 2023.
It was a spectacular season for the Yamaha rider, not only winning his first WorldSBK title but also beating six-time WorldSBK champion, Jonathan Rea.
While the aim is to make the shift to MotoGP, Razgatlioglu is still set his sight of retaining the WorldSBK title in 2022.
In the meantime, he will get his taste of grand prix racing with the factory-spec YZR-M1.
“I will try the M1 in a private test, I will be on track with Cal Crutchlow and I will be able to make my MotoGP debut in 2023.
“I know that people who like me and accompany me want me to do this more than I do.
“So 2022 is very important for my transition to MotoGP. But for now, I want to be focused on defending the Superbike title in 2022,” he said.
Yamaha Europe is celebrating Toprak Razgatlioğlu WorldSBK championship victory with a very special, limited edition YZF-R1 World Championship Replica.
Limited to just 21 units worldwide, the bike is produced jointly between Yamaha Europe and Crescent Racing PRO SHOP.
The extremely limited track machine makes 205hp at the rear wheel, an increase of 20hp over the standard R1 thanks to the inclusion of the Akrapovic race exhaust system and a special GYTR race ECU.
The bike also features Marchesini lightweight rims and Öhlins factory-spec suspension that helps to trim down more than 26 kilograms of weight than the stock R1.
Braking is done by a special race tune Brembo brakes for the ultimate on-track performance.
Other special features include:
Toprak Razgatlioglu crowned 2021 WorldSBK champion after finishing second behind Jonathan Rea in Race 1 at Mandalika Circuit, Indonesia.
The win also witnesses Razgatlioglu becoming the first rider to beat Kawasaki’s Rea to the WorldSBK title since 2015.
The final round at Mandalika was delayed once again as the rain began to fall moments before the scheduled race before it finally get going 15 minutes later.
Rea made a brilliant start and took the lead before Turn 1 while Razgatlioglu pushed down to 4th place however the Pata Yamaha quickly made his move to take second place off Garrett Gerloff and Scott Redding.
With 2 laps to go, the Turkish rider began catching up to Rea however it wasn’t enough as Rea held on for the win while Redding took third place.
Nevertheless, it was enough for Razgatlioglu to take his first WorldSBK championship from Rea and also became the first Yamaha rider to win the title since Ben Spies in 2009.
Razgatlioglu also joins Fabio Quartararo in winning the world titles in the same season for Yamaha.
Yamaha WorldSBK rider, Toprak Razgatlioglu, has unveiled to Jonathan Rea that he will ride the Yamaha MotoGP factory machine at the end of the season.
The Turkish rider met with Rea at the Barcelona round and exchanged a few words before casually revealed that he received the opportunity to ride the Yamaha YZR-M1.
“I’ll try the M1 at the end of the season. I’ll do it to understand the bike and how it works; maybe I won’t even like it,” said the Turks.
The conversation was recorded on Rea’s YouTube channel, which you can checkout below:
While it may be exciting to see Razgatlioglu onboard the M1, knowing that he already penned a two-year extension to remain in WorldSBK, this could be just an effort to allow him to taste at MotoGP.
Nonetheless, we might see him in the world championship in a couple of years.
WorldSBK rider Toprak Razgatlioglu is not thinking about MotoGP yet as he prioritises becoming a WorldSBK champion first.
The Turkish rider was heavily linked with the Sepang Racing Team MotoGP to replace the retiring Valentino Rossi.
It is understood that the offer to move to MotoGP with SRT was on the table for the 24-year-old rider before he decided to extend his stay in WorldSBK for two more seasons.
According to Razgatlioglu, his current objective is to become a World Champion in WorldSBK.
“Normally, my plan would be to be Superbike World Champion and maybe after that move up to the MotoGP paddock, and I don’t know.
“Now I’m just focused on being a Superbike champion, and I like the category paddock.
“I remember being here in 2013 and 2014 at the Rookies Cup, and this is a completely different paddock.
“Everyone has the dream of being in MotoGP, I know that, but I repeat, I haven’t had that dream for many years now because I know that for me MotoGP is like a galaxy, and maybe I could have a bike, but for me personally I think it’s better to be champion in Superbikes, that’s the dream and what I’m following and after that maybe we can come here,” he said.
Despite finishing the 2020 season at 4th place, the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK rider is just three points behind Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea in the overall standings, thanks to five wins from the last ten races.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu akan terus kekal bersama Yamaha di Kejuaraan Superbike Dunia (WorldSBK) setelah menandatangani kontrak lanjutan dua tahun.
Razgatlıoğlu dianugerahkan kontrak lanjutan setelah menampilkan prestasi cemerlang sejak menyertai pasukan itu pada 2020.
Pelumba kelahiran Turkey itu merekodkan kemenangan sulung dalam penampilan pertamanya dengan jentera R1 di Philip Island sebelum melakar dua lagi kemenangan untuk menduduki tempat keempat keseluruhan, musim lalu.
Prestasi Razgatlıoğlu terus cemerlang memasuki musim 2021 apabila menduduki tempat kedua kejuaraan setakat ini setelah mencatat tujuh podium.
Pencapaian Razgatlıoğlu turut menarik perhatian pasukan di MotoGP, antara yang disebut adalah Petronas Sepang Racing Team (SRT).
SRT bakal kehilangan khidmat Valentino Rossi yang didakwa akan memacu VR46 bersama Ducati musim depan manakala Franco Morbidelli disebut telah bersetuju untuk mengisi slot Maverick Vinales yang akan berhijrah ke pasukan baharu, hujung musim ini.
Sementara itu, kontrak dua tahun ini menyaksikan Razgatlıoğlu akan terus membantu Pata Yamaha with Brixx di pentas WorldSBk sehingga 2023.
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