Yamaha and Toprak Razgatlioglu will end their collaboration at the end of the 2023 Superbike World Championship. This was confirmed by Yamaha two weeks after the WSBK event in Barcelona. During the race weekend in Barcelona, Yamaha presented the 26-year-old from Alanya with a new contract for 2024. Manager Kenan Sofuoglu rejected this.
So far it is unclear who will succeed Razgatlioglu at Yamaha and where the Turk is going. According to team manager Paul Denning, Razgatlioglu received an “overwhelming” offer from Yamaha from a financial perspective. However, this did not meet the expectations of manager Sofuoglu, who also spoke to other manufacturers.
“We deeply regret that Toprak is leaving Yamaha at the end of this season,” commented Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha’s WSBK Project Manager. “We wanted to continue the incredibly successful partnership, the obvious culmination of which is the treble of Drivers, Manufacturers and Teams World Championships we won together in 2021.”
“We have made an offer that appropriately reflects Toprak’s value as a rider and ambassador for Yamaha, as well as the competitiveness of our racing package and racing strategy within the WSBK platform,” reports the Yamaha manager.
“However, in the course of the negotiations it became clear to both sides that Toprak is motivated to face a new challenge in 2024. We respect his decision,” notes Andrea Dosoli.
Cancellation of the MotoGP, new challenge in the WSBK
“I would like to thank the entire Yamaha family for the love and respect they have shown me,” comments Razgatlioglu. “Winning the World Championship was my dream when I signed with Yamaha. We achieved that goal together.”
“For next season I feel I need a new challenge and although there was an opportunity in MotoGP I didn’t feel the same connection with the MotoGP bike that I have with Superbike. But if I stay in WSBK then I need a new goal, a new ambition,” says Razgatlioglu, explaining the move.
“I’m sorry to leave Yamaha, both the brand and the people, because we have a very good relationship, but change is part of every sport and normal for every professional,” notes the 26-year-old Turk.
It is unclear where Razgatlioglu’s path will lead. Before joining Yamaha, the Turk drove for the Puccetti-Kawasaki team. At Kawasaki, sooner or later you have to look around for a successor to record champion Jonathan Rea. Ducati, on the other hand, should not be looking for a second title contender after the contract extension with world champion Alvaro Bautista.
Rumors circulated in Barcelona that Razgatlioglu manager Sofuoglu was negotiating with BMW. However, the people of Munich did not want to comment on this. There should be no contact with Honda.
Toprak Razgatlioglu ended Jonathan Rea’s winning streak with Yamaha
Razgatlioglu switched to Yamaha for the 2020 WSBK season and has already won his first race with the R1. Razgatlioglu finished his Yamaha debut season fourth with three wins. The following year, the exceptional Turkish talent brought Yamaha its first WSBK title since Ben Spies in 2009.
Last year Razgatlioglu fought for the title with the Yamaha R1 and won 14 races. In the end, however, the defending champion had to admit defeat and lost the title to Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista.
Yamaha rewarded Razgatlioglu with two MotoGP tests for success in the Superbike World Championship. At the most recent test in Jerez, Razgatlioglu realized that he had more fun with the Superbike. It was difficult for him to get a feel for the MotoGP-Yamaha front wheel.
Will Dominique Aegerter get the chance in the works team?
In the Superbike World Championship, Razgatlioglu has so far celebrated 31 victories with Yamaha. It is unclear who will succeed the 26-year-old. The GRT Yamaha riders would be potential candidates for second place in the factory team.
Paul Denning was already impressed by Dominique Aegerter and made it clear that neither age nor origin are decisive, but solely the performance.