Razgatlioglu takes stock at halftime: “On Friday we are simply not there”

– Toprak Razgatlioglu looks back on the first half of his debut season in MotoGP with mixed feelings. The three-time Superbike World Champion, who made the jump to Pramac-Yamaha in the premier class in 2026, sees clear progress but still a major weakness.

Read more Formula 1 rights in Germany: Several bidders for the period from 2028

From the 29-year-old’s point of view, this remains Friday practice, which still regularly lays the foundation for a rather difficult race weekend for the Turk.

“I’m only happy because we always improve in the race,” Razgatlioglu explains regarding his first half of the season. “Our pace is getting better and I am now racing much better. But on Friday, we are simply not there. We come back strong in the race, but then it is too late.”

Razgatlioglu: “That gives me motivation”

He sees the key for the rest of the season exactly in this. The race pace is now there, but the deficit from the first practice sessions regularly costs the team valuable time. “We have the speed and we have the pace. But on Friday, we are just not confident yet.”

“If we already started strong on Friday,” Razgatlioglu explains, “we could achieve significantly better results. I know that, and that exactly gives me motivation.”

Photo gallery: The career highlights of Toprak Razgatlioglu

The Pramac rider emphasizes that the progress does not only depend on his own adaptation. Yamaha is also working intensively to further develop the motorcycle. In his assessment, a more competitive base would significantly ease his entry into every weekend.

“If I improve and at the same time everyone on the motorcycle side works as hard as before, the motorcycle helps me more and more. If we start Friday strong, the rest will be much easier. Because I always improve in the race anyway.”

Razgatlioglu also recognizes this development in the data analyses. Nevertheless, Friday remains the big problem child. “Before the race, we are simply not where we need to be. That makes it very difficult.”

Read more Mercedes: Engine penalty at Antonelli home race in Monza?

“I am happy because I see in the data that we are making progress. But we are still not there on Fridays. That is exactly where we need to start stronger,” says the Turk.

The difference to the Superbike World Championship

When asked whether Fridays in MotoGP are generally more difficult than in the Superbike World Championship, Razgatlioglu mainly points to the completely different workflows and technical conditions. “The biggest difference is the motorcycle and the tires. Everything is different than in the Superbike World Championship,” he explains.

After many years in the production-based world championship, he developed fixed routines there: “In the Superbike World Championship, I often went out alone on Friday, did eight, nine or ten laps and sometimes already did a race simulation in the first free practice. Everything was simply under control there.”

In MotoGP, it is different. The more complex prototypes, the Michelin tires and the much closer competition make preparation much more demanding. Accordingly, he has to get used to a completely new working environment.

Despite all difficulties, Razgatlioglu sees his development on the right track. He is getting closer step by step to the desired level and feels small progress at every race weekend. For 2027, his second season in the premier class, he therefore expects a significant leap in development.

“I am not yet where I want to be, but I am getting closer step by step. Next year many things will change, I am convinced of that,” emphasizes the Pramac rider.

“This year is good because I get a little better at every race weekend. But we absolutely have to improve Friday. If we succeed, everything will change for the better. That is my hope. We will see.”

Read more Stella: McLaren win in Hungary is due to the upgrade