The dream of seeing Toprak Razgatlioglu on a MotoGP™ bike will become reality in 2026; after the news broke that he will indeed make that long-awaited move from WorldSBK to MotoGP for next year, who exactly is this Turkish sporting icon? Well, besides being one of the most exciting motorcycle racers in the world, he’s a multiple World Champion, one of WorldSBK’s all-time greats, the stoppie King, a rider who has pulled off some of the most remarkable races and celebrated in some of the most remarkable of ways and much more. Take a look at how you can get to know MotoGP’s newest name below.
TITLE #1: the first-ever Turkish WorldSBK Champion
2021’s WorldSBK season went down in history as one of the all-time classics; from lights out to the final chequered flag of the year, it was Razgatlioglu vs six-time World Champion and the greatest of all time in WorldSBK, Jonathan Rea. Countless last lap battles, head-to-head fights, a controversial track limits infringement and a Portimao round that even surprised Valentino Rossi during a MotoGP Press Conference… it was a real showdown. Claiming it all in a delayed Race 1 at Mandalika – the first event at the circuit – Razgatlioglu ended Yamaha’s drought in World Superbike and dethroned Rea. The Toprak era had only just started…
DOCUMENTARY: THE FINAL STUNT – Toprak’s road to the 2021 title
Take a look behind the scenes at an unforgettable season of WorldSBK racing, where Toprak’s first stint with Yamaha culminated in one last weekend of heroics in Indonesia. Crew chief Phil Marron, team boss Paul Denning, Toprak and his inner circle – and rivals – all relive the season where a boy with a dream achieved it and put himself on the motorcycle racing map.
TITLE #2: the boldest switch in WorldSBK history pays off
Just over two years ago, news reverberated that Toprak was to ditch Yamaha – a proven winning package – and take up the challenge with BMW instead. Many people doubted him, saying that ‘his career is finished’ but that only motivated ‘El Turco’ further. Nobody could have foreseen what was about to come: 18 wins in a season including a record-setting 13 in a row and eventually, becoming the first rider to take a WorldSBK crown with BMW and just one of three to take the title on two different manufacturers (Corser in 1996 and 2005 with Ducati and Suzuki and Toseland in 2004 and 2007 with Ducati and Honda).
DOCUMENTARY: THE GREATEST STUNT – the unthinkable achieved
Answering all his critics in the best way possible, Razgatlioglu’s journey to success is once again revealed with a behind-the-scenes look at what was an awesome campaign. It wasn’t all roses though; 13 wins in a row came right before a huge crash at Magny-Cours sidelined him for two race weekends. Phil Marron, team principal Shaun Muir and BMW’s then-Sporting Director Marc Bongers – the man responsible for signing Toprak to the German brand – look back on an intense season that made history on so many fronts.
TOPRAK’S BEST WINS: from a first victory to a WorldSBK hero
It goes without saying that Toprak’s biggest attraction is how he rides, bringing legions of fans from all over the world just to see his outstanding braking and never-give-up attitude. Along with that, a huge character, who’s not afraid to ruffle feathers, speak his mind and always playing to the fans, making him a true favourite with the crowd. Some of his best wins have been epic comebacks, including his first win against Jonathan Rea back in 2019 at Magny-Cours in Race 1, whilst one of WorldSBK’s closest podiums was won by the Turkish star on his Yamaha debut in 2020 at Phillip Island. 2021 had countless classics; Most’s battle with Scott Redding in Race 1 and his title-winning race at Mandalika being two of them.
2022 saw him relinquish the title whilst 2023’s season gave some of the best racing throughout against Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista, even if he had to settle for P2. 2024’s title success had many highlights, starting with his first win with BMW in Barcelona – and for that matter, the Tissot Superpole Race the next day. Others included the 13th win in a row, his first win back after injury at Estoril and the special scenes of BMW’s first title at Jerez.