Toprak Razgatlioglu to consider MotoGP move with factory team only?

[weeksy]

Reasonable or over optimistic??

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/99513 ... -team-only


According to Toprak Razgatlioglu’s manager Kenan Sofuoglu, the 2021 WorldSBK champion will only consider a move to MotoGP if he’s offered a factory team ride by Yamaha.

With current WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu set to make his MotoGP test debut with Yamaha this year, rumours of a permanent switch in 2023 are as hot as ever.

Razgatlioglu was initially wanted in MotoGP as soon as this season by the new WITHU RNF Yamaha team, however, Darryn Binder was promoted from Moto3 to the premier class due to Razgatlioglu wanting to win the WorldSBK title first.

Any move to MotoGP was never a possibility until the Turkish rider achieved his childhood dream; which was to become Superbike champion, but with that feat now complete, it has paved the way for such a move.

[Tricky]

I'm probably stating the obvious , but I really do think it will all hinge on how he and others go this season.
If he shines as much as he did last year (and I reckon he will) then yep, I think there is a very good chance that he'll get an offer from a factory MotoGP team- whether it will be Yamaha though, I'm not so sure of.

[Skub]

There's an awful lot that needs to fall into place to bag a factory ride in Motogp. It's not enough to be startlingly skillful,all the sponsorship and contracts need to be in place and that's even before the lottery of which bums are available for which seats and what money they bring to the table.

As Tricky says,this will be a make or break season for Toprak.I think generally WSBK riders are not even on the radar for Motogp teams,all the young kids coming from Italy and Spain are the thing now,so Toprak has that mountain to climb too.

But it can occasionally work out. Petrucci is one recent example of a rider who came through the hard way and won races in a factory team.

[mangocrazy]

I think that Toprak's manager (Kenan Sofuoglu) is acting a bit precious and making demands that may not be achievable. I know that Toprak is a rare talent, but as others have said there is a seemingly limitless supply of crazy fast kids from Italy and (in particular) Spain coming down the conveyor belt.If Toprak really does want to get into MotoGP, I'd advise his manager to tone down the demands a touch. From later in the article Weeksy linked to:

What is also clear is that Razgatlioglu will not join MotoGP in a similar way to Binder which is on an older M1 machine, it has to be a full factory M1.

This is what Sofuoglu said to Speedweek.com: "Even if Yamaha offers us a place in the works team, I'm not sure. I will be very careful with Toprak's career. I don't want to make a mistake and thereby destroy his good feeling.

"He's really enjoying racing at the moment, I don't want to ruin that. Razlan Razali has already asked us several times about the next season, but we are not interested.

"I made it clear to him that we would only consider the works team. We won't be racing for a B team either, but only for the works team."

[Yorick]

He's good, but not head and shoulders above Rea and Redding.
Needs to be really outstanding to make the jump to MotoGP.

[wull]

Kenan will have Toprak’s best interests at heart and won’t be making any rash decisions without Toprak being fully onboard, he’s there to guide him and help him along the way, I wouldn’t be surprised if Toprak wants it on these terms as much as Kenan does so I don’t think he’s being too precious at all.

I think a lot will depend on how well he goes during any wildcard rides this season, I really hope he goes well, I’d maybe watch Moto GP then because it’s utter gash.

[Supermofo]

I'd have Toprak over Binder.

The other thing of course is Yamaha have 1 rider who can ride their bike at the min. They won the title but the next closest Yam rider was Mav who jumped to Priller, Frankie and Rossi were 17th and 18th.

[Yorick]

I'd have Toprak over Binder.

The other thing of course is Yamaha have 1 rider who can ride their bike at the min. They won the title but the next closest Yam rider was Mav who jumped to Priller, Frankie and Rossi were 17th and 18th.

You forget that FM was second in 2020 on an old bike, so not too shabby

[Supermofo]

I'd have Toprak over Binder.

The other thing of course is Yamaha have 1 rider who can ride their bike at the min. They won the title but the next closest Yam rider was Mav who jumped to Priller, Frankie and Rossi were 17th and 18th.

You forget that FM was second in 2020 on an old bike, so not too shabby

My comment was on the Yamaha not on Frankie
" Yamaha have 1 rider who can ride their bike"

A bit like Honda, they had old Marc who could ride their bike and now they are fooked.

Hopefully Yamaha and Honda can up their game but currently they have all their eggs in 1 basket for sure.