Superbike Champion Signs with MotoGP for 2026

Toprak Razgatlioglu's move to MotoGP had been anticipated for several years, but it never materialised until now. On Tuesday, it was officially announced that Razgatlioglu has signed with Yamaha to compete in the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, the MotoGP World Championship. This announcement was eagerly awaited by fans and the championship paddock, who recognise his talent and the significant market he opens in Turkey, where he is considered a national hero for his two Superbike World Championships in a country with little history in two-wheel sports.

"It has always been my dream to race in MotoGP, and I am thrilled that this dream is now coming true," said the Turkish rider in a statement where he bid farewell to his current brand, BMW, until the end of 2025. "We will give everything to achieve more success, with the aim of bringing the title back to Munich. For me, personally, winning again would be the perfect way to say goodbye to Superbike." Razgatlioglu is chasing what would be his third title in the production bike championship (he is currently second in the standings behind Italian Bulega), after winning in 2021 with Yamaha and last year's historic victory with BMW, the Bavarian brand's first in the series. In between, there were two titles for Álvaro Bautista, his main rival in recent years.

Although the Superbike World Championship is considered the second most important two-wheel championship, there hasn't been much crossover between the two. MotoGP's natural feeder series have always been Moto3 and Moto2, and the arrival of riders from the other paddock has been sporadic. The last Superbike champion to try his luck in the premier class was American Ben Spies, who partnered with Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha between 2011 and 2012, achieving only one victory and a fifth-place finish as his best result. Some who made the reverse journey to Superbike, like the aforementioned Bautista, Carlos Checa, the 2011 champion, or Italian Max Biaggi, a two-time SBK champion, have fared better.

Razgatlioglu will return to Yamaha's orbit, with whom he raced in Superbike between 2020 and 2023. There, he worked with Paolo Pavesio, who is currently the general manager of Yamaha Motor Racing and has been his main supporter for his return to the Japanese brand and the MotoGP World Championship. Pavesio's statements were included in the announcement of the signing: "Toprak is the most decorated rider in Yamaha's Superbike history and has proven to be an exceptional talent. His move to MotoGP is both a homecoming and a new challenge. We believe 2026 was the right time to take the step that so many fans have been waiting for."

The transfer market was expected to be quiet, as most of the grid is contracted until 2027, but it is turning out to be quite a turbulent season. Especially since Jorge Martín announced his decision to exercise the clause that would release him from his contract with Aprilia at the end of this year (although the Italians have said no); or Pedro Acosta's intentions to leave KTM for Ducati, where the VR46 team, led by Valentino Rossi, would welcome him with open arms.

Pending any unexpected bombshells, Razgatlioglu has become the first signing for MotoGP 2026, which already sets off a chain reaction. The Turkish rider will join the Pramac Racing satellite team, with a direct contract with Yamaha. Therefore, one of the two riders from that team, Portuguese Miguel Oliveira or Australian Jack Miller, will depart.

There could also be arrivals from Moto2, such as the current category leader, Madrid's Manu González, who tested with Aprilia this Monday after the Aragon GP. Or riders with a valuable flag in the current championship framework: Britain's Jake Dixon, Brazil's Diogo Moreira, or America's Joe Roberts are on the verge of moving to the premier class now that Liberty Media, the American company, is about to take over MotoGP management from Dorna.