Toprak Razgatlioglu Targets Brno Progress

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Toprak Razgatlioglu heads to the 2026 Czech Grand Prix at Brno after recording the best result of his rookie MotoGP campaign with 11th place in Hungary. The Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider believes his adaptation has moved forward, but considers Brno an important test of his understanding of the motorcycle through fast corners and elevation changes.

The Balaton Park result provided a positive foundation after an opening phase dominated by the transition to a MotoGP prototype. Razgatlioglu started the race from 18th before advancing to 11th, finishing close to the group contesting the final top-10 positions. That recovery demonstrated improving race pace, although his single-lap performance and starting position continue to restrict the results available to him.

“Brno will be another important learning weekend for me. I raced here a long time ago, but this will be my first time at the circuit on a MotoGP bike, so it will feel almost like a new track,” Razgatlioglu said.

Baca JugaToprak Razgatlioglu Bidik Kemajuan di Brno

Razgatlioglu last competed at Brno during the 2018 WorldSBK season. That experience provides basic knowledge of the circuit direction and layout, but the references cannot be transferred directly to the Yamaha YZR-M1. A MotoGP machine uses prototype tyres, carbon brakes, advanced electronics and aerodynamic devices while producing a different level of performance from a production-based WorldSBK motorcycle.

Brno also has characteristics capable of exposing the technical progress of the Yamaha package. Its fast corner sequences demand front-end stability, while the elevation changes influence load distribution under braking, direction changes and acceleration. A motorcycle that loses balance over a crest or through a downhill section becomes more difficult to keep on line and may generate excessive tyre temperature.

“Every circuit teaches me something new about the MotoGP bike, and this weekend will be another opportunity to improve my understanding, especially in the fast corners and through the elevation changes that make Brno so unique,” he said.

Razgatlioglu’s adaptation represents one of Yamaha’s central projects during the 2026 season. His WorldSBK riding style was defined by extremely late braking and strong control of rear-wheel movement, but that technique must be adjusted to the characteristics of a MotoGP front tyre and modern aerodynamic load. Excessive braking pressure can compromise motorcycle rotation, while carrying too much entry speed can increase the risk of losing front grip.

The 11th-place finish in Hungary indicated that this process has started to produce measurable progress. Razgatlioglu maintained competitive race pace and moved closer to riders fighting around the top 10. He still requires improvement from practice and qualifying, however, to avoid consuming too much tyre performance while passing riders in the lower midfield during the opening phase of a Grand Prix.

“The positive thing is that we have made good progress in the last few races, and I feel more comfortable with the bike than I did earlier in the season. That gives me confidence going into another new challenge,” the three-time WorldSBK champion said.

Team manager Gino Borsoi identified engine performance as an important factor at Brno, particularly across its longer acceleration sections. Power delivery affects more than maximum speed because it also determines how quickly a rider can recover lap time after exiting an uphill corner.

“Engine performance will remain an important factor here, particularly on some of the longer acceleration sections, but thanks to the progress we have made with the chassis and electronics, we arrive in a much better position than we were at the beginning of the season,” Borsoi said.

Chassis development can provide a more consistent response under braking and during direction changes. At the same time, electronic improvements can refine traction control and power delivery while the rear tyre is operating under high load. Both areas are particularly important for Razgatlioglu as he continues to build an understanding of the available grip and the most effective way to use the M1’s performance across a full race distance.

Borsoi believes the reduced gap to the top-10 group is more significant than one isolated result. That assessment is relevant to Razgatlioglu’s rookie project because improvement must also be measured through relative pace, consistency across sessions and the ability to apply set-up changes. Finishing 11th in Hungary provided a visible result, but the longer-term trend depends on whether he can reproduce that competitiveness at circuits with different demands.

“The most encouraging aspect is that over the last few races we have consistently moved closer to the points and reduced the gap to the riders fighting around the top 10. That trend is more important than any single result,” Borsoi said.

Razgatlioglu’s Brno objective is therefore not defined by one specific finishing position. He intends to improve session by session from Friday, strengthen his understanding through the fast corners and enter Sunday with a more complete package. Should Pramac and Yamaha maintain their chassis and electronics progress while reducing the acceleration weakness, Brno could become the next important benchmark in his rookie MotoGP development.