Toprak Razgatlioglu Adapts Style for MotoGP 2026

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Toprak Razgatlioglu has confirmed he is working on adapting his MotoGP riding style in order to use a Yamaha seat unit that allows the legal fitment of rear wings, as part of his rookie transition with Pramac Racing.

The three-time World Superbike champion completed the entire Sepang shakedown and the opening day of the official MotoGP test without Yamaha’s rear wings fitted. Due to his 6ft1 frame and the seat configuration he initially used, his Yamaha M1 exceeded the maximum height limit defined in the regulations when rear winglets were installed.

At the end of Tuesday’s running at the Sepang Test — where he finished 20th overall — Razgatlioglu reverted to an older seat unit with the rear wings fitted and immediately felt a clear improvement under braking, describing increased confidence during deceleration phases.

At the end of the day, we used the old rear section.
Normally I don’t use it because I ride with a different seat.
But I feel much better because the bike stops much better and this helps a lot.

Razgatlioglu explained that his long Superbike background has shaped his preference for a lower seating position, something that is now constrained by MotoGP packaging and fuel tank placement. The compromise between seat height and aerodynamic legality has become a central challenge in his adaptation process.

In Superbikes I always used a lower seat and it worked very well for me.
In MotoGP it is completely different, because now I am already using the lowest possible seat.
But with this position, I cannot use the wings because of the rules.

Despite these limitations, Razgatlioglu believes the braking benefits of the rear wings are significant enough to justify further adaptation, even if it requires a fundamental change in his riding approach, particularly in carrying corner speed.

These wings help a lot under braking.
Maybe tomorrow I will continue using them, but I need to change my riding style.
I need more corner speed, because in Superbikes I was always stop-and-go.

Alongside the technical adaptation, Razgatlioglu used Tuesday’s official running to study the lines of other riders on track. He highlighted following reigning champion Marc Marquez as a key learning moment, especially in understanding rear tyre behaviour and corner approach in MotoGP machinery.

I saw something very useful while following Marc.
He is very fast and very strong, and I am just trying to understand some corners when I follow him.
I was surprised because in some corners he does not lean the bike much, and maybe this is the direction we need to ride this bike.

As Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP education continues, his focus remains on refining braking stability, corner speed, and regulatory compliance rather than outright lap time. The next phase of testing will be critical in determining how effectively he can integrate aerodynamic aids while reshaping a riding style forged in World Superbike competition.