"Razgatlioglu and Gerloff are candidates for MotoGP"

June 30, 2021

The early termination of Maverick Viñales’ contract puts Yamaha in an unexpected situation. For the 2022 MotoGP season, the Japanese will need to find a replacement for the factory team. Petronas team driver Franco Morbidelli would be the logical choice. That would leave a hole in the Malaysian line-up and if Valentino Rossi decides to withdraw, Razlan Razali , the main team, would need two new drivers.

In his own Moto2 team he has two young talents, Xavi Vierge and Jake Dixon, but their current season does not make them the best option for promotion to MotoGP. The main riders in the intermediate category already have contracts in MotoGP for 2022 and the alternative is to look at WorldSBK.

Garrett Gerloff, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Garett Gerloff, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Garrett Gerloff, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Garrett Gerloff, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Garrett Gerloff, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Garrett Gerloff, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Photo by: Dorna

Garrett Gerloff, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Photo by: Dorna

Garrett Gerloff, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Yamaha would have two candidates in its own ranks: Toprak Razgatlioglu and Garrett Gerloff. WorldSBK team boss Paul Denning trusts his two riders to make the move to MotoGP.

“I see Garrett and Toprak as MotoGP candidates. It depends on the possibilities and the timing,” Denning told Motorsport.com in an interview.

The team will not put obstacles if an offer arrives

“We’d like to keep both of them,” says Denning. “If one of them gets a good offer from MotoGP, Yamaha won’t stand in the way.”

Razgatlioglu signed for Yamaha in 2020. The Turk has the Superbike World Championship as his priority objective and for this reason he refused to replace Franco Morbidelli in Assen. In the end, Garrett Gerloff was chosen and he put in a solid performance.

Paul Denning

“I can’t speak for Garrett. But in Toprak’s case, I know his motivation is to win,” Denning confirmed. “I can’t speak for him, but I imagine he would rather be World Superbike Champion than race for sixth place in MotoGP.”

Gerloff has already managed to impress Lin Jarvis

Gerloff, meanwhile, sees himself competing in MotoGP in the future. The American already made a good impression during his debut in Valencia in 2020. In practice on Friday, on a wet track, he immediately familiarized himself with the Yamaha M1 on a track that was new to him.

“He had a tough start because of the weather. That Friday it rained, then it was kind of wet, kind of dry…it was a horrible day weather-wise,” recalls Denning. “He stayed relaxed and let his talent do the talking. He drove as fast as he could and didn’t worry about a thing. He did a fantastic job.”

“I know he impressed Lin [ Jarvis , Yamaha’s MotoGP general manager] and the Yamaha organization. It was a good claim for WorldSBK. He hadn’t won a race or been consistently in the lead. And with the MotoGP Yamaha he was fast immediately”.

“On the other hand, we have seen some riders in the past who came from MotoGP and were surprised that the level in WorldSBK is very high,” recalled Denning.