“Hard, no fun”: Razgatlioglu struggles with Yamaha’s lack of chances

– Superbike world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu has scored a world championship point in his first four MotoGP race weekends. The Turk achieved this in Austin when he finished 15th, making him the best Yamaha rider.

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Usually, the Pramac rider fights with his three Yamaha colleagues at the back of the field. The new V4 motorcycle is not yet competitive enough to normally make it into the top 10 on its own power.

Razgatlioglu’s Grand Prix results so far have been: 17, 17, 15, and 19. In the Superbike World Championship, Razgatlioglu was used to fighting for wins at every race weekend in recent years.

Jerez was particularly emotional. Last October, Razgatlioglu won his third Superbike world championship title on this track. Now he could not score a single world championship point in MotoGP.

“Yes, it is difficult,” he admits after the Jerez weekend. “I have great memories here, but with the MotoGP bike everything is completely different. Before I came here, I knew what to expect.”

“But I always try to do my best. I also look at the other Yamaha riders, and normally Fabio [Quartararo] is very strong here. He is also trying to do his best with this new project.”

“That is normal because he is also a world champion, and it is not easy for him either. Last year he got pole position, this year he couldn’t achieve those lap times. That is very difficult for him as well.”

Since the winter tests, Razgatlioglu has emphasized that he considers 2026 a learning year as a rookie. Nevertheless, the fact that he can hardly score world championship points with the new Yamaha gnaws at the 29-year-old.

“I always try to remember that this is my first year, a learning year. But sometimes it is tough, especially today,” he said immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix.

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“I didn’t have any fun, especially because of the penalty.” Razgatlioglu received a long-lap penalty for a crash with Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori in the sprint.

“Even without the penalty, I wouldn’t have had the pace to keep up with the other group. But towards the end of the race, I had a good pace, similar to Fabio. We ran comparable lap times.”

“But towards the end of the race, it was too late. We have to use my potential at the start of the race with new tires,” says Razgatlioglu. “That is difficult, but we are learning. I have to get the electronics under control. That is crucial.”

Photo gallery: The career highlights of Toprak Razgatlioglu

Former world champion Quartararo has so far scored eleven world championship points. Alex Rins has three points. Jack Miller, the experienced teammate of Razgatlioglu in the Pramac team, still has a zero next to his name in the world championship standings.

“It is definitely frustrating,” Miller is currently experiencing the same frustration as Razgatlioglu. “You work hard all week, the entire preseason, you have certain goals in mind and at the same time you know it is hard to achieve them.”

“But what can you do? Quitting is not an option, so we keep working on it. And I am convinced: if you put in the work, the tide will turn eventually. I am someone who can even get blood out of a stone.”

In the manufacturers’ standings, Yamaha is in last place with 14 points. The factory team and Pramac also occupy the last two places in the team standings.

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