Toprak Begins Adapting Quartararo Riding Style

Toprak Razgatlioglu is beginning to show important progress in his MotoGP adaptation process after Pramac Racing revealed that the Turkish rider has started to mirror elements of Fabio Quartararo's riding style in several corners. Pramac team principal Gino Borsoi believes the development demonstrates that Razgatlioglu is slowly understanding the technical demands of Yamaha's MotoGP machine.

Razgatlioglu endured a difficult 2026 Catalan MotoGP weekend after struggling to find grip on Barcelona's slippery track surface. The reigning WorldSBK champion qualified last, finished ahead of only Yamaha wildcard Augusto Fernandez in the Sprint Race, and later lost his grand prix point after receiving a post-race tyre pressure penalty alongside team-mate Jack Miller.

Despite the difficult results, Borsoi stressed that Razgatlioglu's performance cannot be judged purely by finishing positions. According to the Italian, Toprak still rides with instincts heavily shaped by his World Superbike background, a style significantly different from modern MotoGP requirements, particularly regarding Michelin tyre behaviour and aerodynamic sensitivity.

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"I wouldn't say he rides badly; he rides differently, the way he has always ridden in Superbike. It is not easy to completely change your riding style during race weekends because to do that, a rider has to accept losing time," Borsoi explained to GPone.

Borsoi stated that the adaptation process requires major compromises because Razgatlioglu must adjust the aggressive braking and corner-entry instincts that previously defined his success in WorldSBK. In MotoGP, corner speed management, front-to-rear grip balance and aerodynamic downforce behaviour are considerably more sensitive than on production-based superbikes.

However, Yamaha's telemetry data is already beginning to show positive signs. Borsoi revealed that in several corners, Razgatlioglu has started adopting racing lines and cornering techniques similar to Quartararo, who remains Yamaha's primary reference rider in MotoGP.

"We can already see it in the data. In many corners, Toprak is learning to ride like Quartararo. The potential is there; we just need to give him time to synchronise his riding style with this category," Borsoi said.

From a pure pace perspective, Razgatlioglu's gap to the front group in Catalunya also started to reduce. His best lap during the grand prix was only 0.630 seconds slower than race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio on the Ducati and roughly two tenths slower than Quartararo's best lap. The figures provide an important indication that Toprak's adaptation process is beginning to produce measurable improvements in race rhythm.

During Monday's official Catalunya test, Yamaha also introduced several new components including an updated chassis and revised aerodynamic package. Borsoi explained that Razgatlioglu immediately felt more comfortable with the new chassis, particularly through corner phases, while Miller and Quartararo also reported improved stability when leaning the bike into corners.

However, Yamaha continues to face a major weakness regarding the performance of its new V4 engine. Borsoi admitted there is still no update regarding a future engine upgrade package aimed at addressing the straight-line speed deficit currently affecting Yamaha against rivals such as Ducati and KTM.

With Mugello next on the MotoGP calendar, Razgatlioglu's adaptation progress will remain a major paddock talking point. The fast Italian circuit, featuring heavy braking zones and extreme direction changes, is expected to provide another critical benchmark in evaluating how quickly the WorldSBK champion can fully transform into a competitive MotoGP rider.