2023-05-22 09:04:06
Toprak Razgatlioglu has decided to leave Yamaha to take on a new challenge. The Turkish rider, titled in WorldSBK two years ago, has been approached for a time in MotoGP with the manufacturer of Iwata, but a recent test has somewhat scalded him.
A few weeks ago, we said Toprak Razgatlioglu candidate for a possible transfer to MotoGP, where the place of Franco Morbidelli in the official Yamaha team is threatened. But once morest all expectations, the Turkish pilot will leave the group of Iwata.
The news was announced on Monday by the manufacturer, which won the Superbike World Championship with Razgatlioglu in 2021, ending Kawasaki’s then unchallenged reign with Jonathan Rea. The Turk has been riding the R1 for four years and this story will end at the end of the current season. The pilot explains that he decided to “take on a new challenge” in 2024.
“We will be sorry to see Toprak leave Yamaha at the end of this season”, regrets Andrea Dosoli, head of the circuit racing program for Yamaha Motor Europe, who does not hide that the manufacturer wanted to keep its star driver. “We made what we thought was an offer that reflected Toprak’s value as a rider and ambassador for Yamaha, as well as the competitiveness of our package and strategy in WorldSBK. However, as negotiations progressed, it became clear to both parties that Toprak was motivated to take on a new challenge in 2024 and we respect his decision.”
“Not the same connection with MotoGP”
Toprak Razgatlioglu assumes this choice, aware of the major change that this will represent in his career, but also of the opportunity he is depriving himself of potentially joining the Grands Prix. Only, the test he recently performed on the handlebars of Yamaha MotoGP seems to have clarified his projects by showing him that he had every interest in staying in Superbike.
“For next season, I feel like I need a new challenge,” explains the 26-year-old pilot. “Although there was an opportunity in MotoGP, I didn’t feel the same connection with MotoGP that I have with Superbike. But if I’m going to stay in WorldSBK, I need a new goal, new ambition.”
“I want to send a very big thank you to the whole Yamaha family for the love and respect they have shown to me. Winning the World Championship was my dream when I signed with Yamaha, and we have achieved that. goal together”, adds the Turkish pilot. “I’m sorry to leave Yamaha, both brand and people, because our relationship is very good, but change is part of any sport and it’s normal for any professional. So thank you Yamaha Motor Company , Yamaha Motor Europe, Yamaha Motor Turkiye, the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK team and especially my team, who worked so hard for me.”
The most successful Yamaha rider in WorldSBK with 31 successes to date (he had previously scored a double at Magny-Cours in 2009, with Kawasaki), Toprak Razgatlioglu currently occupies the second place in the championship, the one he has already obtained last year. Now that his departure has been confirmed, the brand does not intend to draw a line under its ambitions for the current season, despite the significant lead already taken by alvaro bautista on his Ducati.
“On behalf of Yamaha but also personally, I would like to thank Toprak for their invaluable contribution to our WorldSBK project”, adds Andrea Dosoli. “His first World Championship title in 2021 was a just reward for him but also for all the people who have worked so hard since our return to WorldSBK in 2016 to make this project a success. the world at Yamaha will cherish.”
While Yamaha only has a factory team in MotoGP and should not find a satellite team before 2025, the transfer of Toprak Razgatlioglu remained very hypothetical in the short term. This separation with the manufacturer now puts a cross on this project and, given the comments made by the Turk, it is indeed in Superbike that his future seems to have to be written.
Franco Morbidelli, he made it known that its negotiations with Yamaha had begun with a view to a contract extension, but the name of Jorge Martín continues to circulate since last winter, to the point that Ducati has recalled in recent days what the Spaniard would lose by joining a brand currently in great difficulty.
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