Toprak Razgatlioglu has expressed his pleasure at receive a more comprehensive testing opportunity on the Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike at Jerez as both he and the manufacturer evaluate their futures.
Widely seen as a chance for Yamaha to assess its 2021 WorldSBK Champion for a potential future in MotoGP, it comes amid growing speculation over Franco Morbidelli’s seat come the end of his contract this season.
With the likes of Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi also understood to being among the targets for the manufacturer, Razgatlioglu faces a tough task to adapt and impress from WorldSBK.
Even so, with two full days of track time under his belt, Razgatlioglu was pleased with the chance to get a proper taste of MotoGP machinery.
“I enjoyed the two days, finally some good weather because last year I only got 20 laps, but now I am lucky. Thanks to Yamaha for the opportunity and now we will see for the future.
“It is a completely different bike, Superbike is a softer bike and the MotoGP is hard, you need to adapt to it. I am just trying to enjoy the riding, because this is the dream, it is all young riders’ dream. I did and I got two days, I enjoyed riding
“Racing in MotoGP is still the dream, this is just a test, I was to see the potential. We are looking, I don’t know now.
“Now I am back to my job, because my Superbike season is important and I am ready to fight for the championship again.”
"MotoGP's gain would be WorldSBK's loss"
While tempered comments from Yamaha Racing director Lin Jarvis - which bluntly stated he’d need to adapt his riding style significantly to transition from WorldSBK to MotoGP - have coolled some of the more fevered rumours that Razgatlioglu will join Fabio Quartararo next year, he at least has a strong advocate his title rival Jonathan Rea.
“It is a hard situation to be in, but Toprak is an incredible talent and given the right opportunity, with the right people that really believe in him, he can do a great job.
“A rider can only do the best with the opportunities available, there is no magic answer, but he has a great team here in WorldSBK, he is respected. But if MotoGP gained Toprak, it would be WorldSBK’s loss.”
