Toprak Razgatlıoğlu has announced that he made significant progress during the Catalunya Grand Prix weekend and subsequent official testing, the sixth round of the 2026 MotoGP season. The three-time World Superbike champion emphasized in an interview with Crash.net that he took one of his most concrete steps in adapting to Pramac Yamaha's M1 prototype in Barcelona.
Light in the midst of a difficult journey.
Razgatlıoğlu stated that before Catalunya, he began analyzing his teammate Fabio Quartararo's data and trying to understand the Frenchman's approach to cornering speed on soft tires. Speaking to Crash.net, Razgatlıoğlu said: “I'm following Fabio's data; he generates much more cornering speed on soft tires. I'm trying it too, but it's very difficult. I'm looking for grip on the fairing; whereas with these tires, you need to maintain cornering speed and slowly open the throttle. I'm doing the opposite.”
Sitting position is still a problem.
Another factor making Razgatlıoğlu's adaptation difficult is the ergonomics specific to MotoGP prototypes. In a statement to Crash.net, he said, “I’m still sitting very high. I feel the front wheel is low; it feels strange because it’s not my style. I’m trying to adapt, but under the current rules, only trying a different seat next season is possible.”.
Catalonia test: "a big step"“
Following the race weekend, Razgatlıoğlu conducted extensive work on electronic braking and the chassis during the official test on Monday; although he experienced a fall in the morning, he continued without injury. After the test, he described his own performance as a "big step." However, after seeing that Quartararo's data also translates into a qualifying advantage in races, he added: "When Fabio is skilled, it works in races too. I'm still lagging behind in that area; I need to master qualifying first."“
Pramac Yamaha's pressure is increasing.
The team is expecting faster development steps from Yamaha, in addition to Razgatlıoğlu's individual progress. Pramac is demanding that the factory "deliver something as soon as possible," according to Crash.net. Although the Turkish rider appears impatient and sometimes irritable early in the season, he remains motivated.
Michelin tires: "This is the real problem."“
In another interview with Crash.net, Razgatlıoğlu emphasized that the main obstacle to his adaptation was not the Yamaha M1 but the Michelin tires: “I’m tired of talking about the bike because the real problem is the tires. My whole career was spent at Pirelli; everything works differently here. Instead of talking about tires, I need to find a solution.”
These words reveal both Razgatlıoğlu's maturity and a realistic reflection of the challenging process he is going through.