Who is Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and why is he moving to MotoGP?
19 June 2025From gravity-defying stoppies to heart-stopping last-lap lunges, two-time World Superbike Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu has made a name for himself as one of the most electrifying motorcycle racers in the world.
Now, after years of speculation and anticipation, the Turkish superstar is set to make his long-awaited switch from WorldSBK to MotoGP in 2026.
But who exactly is the man they call El Turco, and what does his move mean for MotoGP, the team he's joining, and motorcycle racing as a whole?
A force of nature in World Superbike
Bold, brave, and utterly unmissable on track, Toprak’s riding style is uniquely aggressive with his rear tyre rising high into the air, brakes aglow, allowing him to take his bike beyond a normal rider’s limits.
His spectacular style doesn’t stop at the chequered flag, either, with stoppie celebrations that are as wild as his racecraft.
The turning point in Toprak’s career came in 2021, when he ended Jonathan Rea’s six-year WorldSBK dominance to become the first Turkish World Champion in the series.
His battle with Rea that season was the stuff of legend, with last-lap duels, aggressive overtakes, and a finale in Mandalika that sealed his place in history.
But the Toprak story was only just getting started.
The BMW gamble pays off
In one of the boldest moves the paddock had seen in years, Toprak left the proven might of Yamaha at the end of 2023 – having narrowly missed out on the title two years in succession – to join the less competitive BMW package and a team still seeking its first Superbike title.
Critics called it career-ending. Toprak called it a worthy challenge.
In the 2024 season, he silenced the doubters in typical Toprak style taking 18 wins (13 of them consecutively setting a new record) and a second WorldSBK crown.
It was BMW’s first championship in the series and Toprak became only the third rider to take titles with two different manufacturers in WorldSBK.
Now in 2025, he’s right in the title fight again, just nine points off the lead after nine victories so far. All signs point to another classic season for the Turkish rider.
Why MotoGP and why now?
For years, fans and pundits alike have wondered when, not if, Toprak would jump ship to MotoGP. The answer finally came in 2025, and the dream becomes reality in 2026.
The timing couldn't be better. Toprak has achieved everything there is to achieve in WorldSBK with multiple titles, historic wins and astonishing records. The challenge of MotoGP offers a fresh challenge: new bikes, new rivals, and the biggest spotlight in two-wheeled motorsport.
And MotoGP will welcome a rider with a distinctive personality like his. Toprak’s character is refreshingly raw. He speaks up when others don’t, stays true to his beliefs and provides plenty of showmanship for the crowds.
What it means for Prima Pramac Yamaha and MotoGP
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu isn’t just a fast rider, he’s a global draw and will bring with him legions of new fans from Turkey and World SBK.
For Prima Pramac Yamaha – the team he joins in 2026, it’ll not only be getting an extremely marketable personality rider, but one with bags of experience who has the potential to upset the long-established MotoGP apple cart.
And for the sport? It’s a much-anticipated crossover that’ll bring plenty of new talking points, fans and sponsors to the paddock. Having a rider who not only races to win, but one who aims to entertain as well, can only ever be a positive for MotoGP.
The road ahead
As the 2025 WorldSBK season continues, Toprak remains laser-focused on reclaiming the crown. But with one eye on the future, anticipation is already building for his MotoGP debut.
Will he adapt quickly to the refined prototype machines at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing? Will his aggressive, unorthodox style shake up the status quo? One thing’s for sure: wherever Toprak Razgatlıoğlu goes, excitement is sure to follow.
