It seems like we’ve been talking about how Toprak Razgatlioglu wants to be in MotoGP for years now, and that’s because we have been. The wunderkind World Superbike (WSBK) racer has made it no secret that his ambitions lie in the premier world series, and has been linked to talks about a seat with everyone from Yamaha, Ducati, Honda, and even BMW and Suzuki as those teams attempt to reenter the series.
Yet, rumors are rumors, and they’ve been swirling for years to no cathartic release.
That is until today, as who could be the most dominant force in Superbike has finally been given the nod to enter MotoGP next year and will race for Pramac Yamaha. Thank god we don’t have to talk about rumors anymore.
But we do have to begin to speculate wildly on how Toprak will do at the team, given they’re working diligently on the brand’s new V4 engine architecture, and how he’ll stack up to the likes of the Marquez brothers, Bagnaia, and Quatarao, as well as the rest of the grid. I mean, he’s likely the most hyped motorcycle racer in the last decade.
Expectations are high as hell.
The news broke after weeks of reinvigorated rumors, one of which pointed to Pramac Yamaha itself. But the motorcycle racer’s news was finally confirmed by MotoGP, Pramac Yamaha, and Toprak himself, with the former stating, “Two-time #WorldSBKWorld Champion @toprak_tr54 will jump to #MotoGP with @pramacracing in 2026!” in an Instagram post lined above.
According to a Yamaha statement, “Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce that Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, current WorldSBK Champion and 2021 WorldSBK Champion with Yamaha, will return to Yamaha in the 2026 season, debuting in MotoGP with the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team. After a stellar stint in the FIM Superbike World Championship (2018-2025), during which he was crowned WorldSBK Champion twice and became the second most victorious rider of all time with 63 victories so far, Razgatlıoğlu is ready to take on a new challenge in the premier class of MotoGP.”
The manufacturer added, “Having Razgatlıoğlu step up to MotoGP and join the factory-supported Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team, a collaboration between Yamaha and Pramac, is a strategic decision that allows the Turkish rider to showcase his unique talent at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing.”
What we don’t know, however, is who Toprak’s teammate will be.
Currently, Pramac Yamaha’s riders are Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira. Now, according to the riders’ contracts, it should be that Jack Miller would be leaving the team, as he was on a single-year stint, while Oliveira had a two-year signed in 2024. But Miller has done better on the Pramac Yamaha machine and currently has 31 points compared to Oliveira’s meager 3 points. And given how cutthroat MotoGP’s contracts and contract negotiations are—I’m looking at you, Pedro Acosta and Jorge Martin—we could very well see a Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jack Miller card for next season.
We could also see a wildcard of wildcards pulled and see Pramac Yamaha cut both Miller and Oliveira for someone new to join Toprak and basically start fresh. Fresh regulations, fresh engine, fresh team. A restart of the team’s push to take the fight to Ducati, which it’s showed it can do in the form of Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo’s run of poles this season.
He hasn’t done so hot once the racing’s started, but let’s not dwell on particulars.
Yet, it does seem like next season is already shaping up to be an absolute cracker of a time, as with the introduction of new regulations, new motorcycles, and new faces, as well as the return of many seasoned vets hungry to take the fight to Ducati, Jorge Martin’s contract insanity, and the likely exit of KTM, the team and riders’ championships are all up in the air.
