Toprak Razgatlioglu battles tyre and bike issues in MotoGP debut

Three‑time World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu has found his first MotoGP season in 2026 far tougher than expected. Riding a Yamaha M1 that he describes as the slowest on the grid, he has struggled to adapt to the Michelin tyres, which differ each circuit from the Pirelli compounds he used in SBK. The difficulty was most evident at the German Grand Prix in Sachsenring, where he said, “I haven’t had fun this weekend… the only thing that makes me happy is that the weekend is over.”

Razgatlioglu acknowledged the need for improvement, noting that next year the Italian tyre supplier may change the equation. He remains grateful to Yamaha but admits the constant tyre changes “destroy my motivation.” After the race he sits last among Yamaha riders with 12 points, 43 points behind the series leader Fabio Quartararo, while more experienced riders such as Luca Miller and Marco Rins sit ahead.