MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Toprak Razgatlioglu is targeting a step forward at the 2026 Spanish MotoGP in Jerez as he continues to adapt to the Yamaha project in his debut season in the premier class.
The Turkish rider has faced a complex adaptation phase, particularly in adjusting his riding style to the characteristics of the Yamaha M1, which now features a new V4 engine configuration. The package remains under development, and this has impacted overall competitiveness and consistency during the opening three rounds of the season.
Despite the challenges, Razgatlioglu secured his first MotoGP point at the Circuit of the Americas, finishing 15th in the main race. While the result reflects early progress, it also underlines the performance gap to the front-running group.
Jerez represents a circuit of particular significance for Razgatlioglu. He secured his WorldSBK titles at the venue in 2024 and 2025, making it one of his most familiar and successful tracks.
“I really like Jerez. Not only because of the layout and the feeling of the track, but also because I became world champion there in the last two years. I have very strong memories of this circuit,” Razgatlioglu said.
However, he emphasized that the key challenge is ensuring that his confidence at Jerez translates into performance with the current Yamaha package, which still requires refinement in areas such as engine response and chassis balance.
“Now we have a new project with Yamaha, so we need to understand if my good feeling at this track matches the bike. The team is working very hard to improve the overall package, and as always I will give my best and hopefully achieve a good result,” he added.
From a team perspective, Pramac Racing considers the Jerez round a key milestone in the ongoing development programme. The circuit offers extensive reference data for all manufacturers, allowing direct comparison across the grid.
Yamaha will field five M1 machines at Jerez, including Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, Jack Miller, and Razgatlioglu. Test rider Augusto Fernandez will also participate, focusing on evaluating updates ahead of the post-race test.
After three rounds, all Yamaha riders remain outside the competitive positions in the championship standings. This situation highlights the early-stage nature of the project, with ongoing efforts centred on improving consistency, setup direction, and overall understanding of the bike as the 2026 season progresses.
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