The feeling that Razgatlioglu might switch to MotoGP as part of his relationship with Yamaha has long hung in the air, and rumors of a switch for 2023 intensified after winning the WorldSBK title last year.
The Turkish rider even has a test at the controls of the Iwata -branded MotoGP M1 scheduled for next month, both as a reward for his success in WorldSBK and to evaluate him for the future in the premier class.
However, Razgatlioglu’s hopes of changing category have been hit hard following last week’s news that Yamaha will have just two works bikes on the MotoGP grid in 2023 following RNF’s departure alongside Aprilia.
Yamaha team boss in MotoGP, Lin Jarvis , had previously made it clear that if Toprak were to move to MotoGP, it would almost certainly be with a satellite team.
And now, with Franco Morbidelli already under contract with the factory Yamaha team and reigning champion Fabio Quartararo more than likely to follow, Jarvis has clearly stated that he has no room for Razgatlioglu heading into 2023.
“The meaning behind the test was his interest in testing the MotoGP bike as well,” Jarvis told the official WorldSBK website. “Secondly, it was a small reward from Yamaha for their championship last year and their continued commitment to Yamaha for the future.”
“So I think the most important goal for that test remains the same. Relax, test, enjoy and experience the MotoGP bike, to get a sense of what it could be like if you choose to change in the future.”
“But obviously this news of not having a satellite team, in any case, means that we don’t have a gap [for 2023], period, because we will only have two bikes in the official team.
Toprak Razgatlioglu’s current contract with Yamaha runs until the end of 2023, meaning he will almost certainly stay in WorldSBK next season, but a move to MotoGP in 2024 remains a theoretical possibility.
The 25-year-old has had a rocky start to his 2022 WorldSBK title defense as he failed to win any races in the first three rounds of the season, falling 52 points behind world leader Spanish rider Álvaro Baptist.
