RAZGATLIOGLU URGES YAMAHA TO PRIORITISE THE 850CC PROJECT AHEAD OF 2027

Toprak Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP Sprint in Aragon ended with a 13th-place finish for the Pramac Yamaha rider, 15.8 seconds behind the winner, Marc Marquez on a Ducati. Razgatlioglu crossed the line just behind Yamaha factory rider Alex Rins, while Jack Miller was the best Yamaha performer in the race in 10th. Fabio Quartararo did not finish after a motor problem.

For Razgatlioglu, the result underlined a recurring issue with the Yamaha M1: a lack of top speed on the long straights of MotorLand Aragón. The three-time Superbike world champion said the overall picture wasn’t disastrous, but that the Yamaha package consistently loses too much time on the back straight and the run to the next corner. “It wasn’t so bad, but all the Yamahas lose an incredible amount on the back straight,” he explained. He added that the problem is not primarily at corner exit. “At the corner exit we’re not bad. But as soon as we shift into third gear and keep going up, the others just pull away. Then I’m alone.”

That straight-line deficit also makes it harder to fight for positions. Razgatlioglu described how he has to claw back time in the braking zones after being left behind on the straights, but he stressed that even braking has a limit. “We’re very strong when braking, because the bike is slow on the straight and we try to make up time there,” he said. “But there is also a limit when braking. At some point the front locks and the bike doesn’t decelerate anymore.”

A separate incident further disrupted his Sprint. Razgatlioglu lost valuable time after having to take evasive action at the entrance to the final corner to avoid a collision with KTM rider Enea Bastianini. He went off his line and dropped two places. From there, he fought back toward Rins, but was unable to find a way past the Spaniard.

Despite the setbacks, Razgatlioglu pointed to progress in setup and feel. He said a changed Yamaha configuration helped him most when it came to turning in. “For the first time I ride the bike with a setup like this. Normally I would never ride it like this,” he said. “But yesterday I understood that we need it, because I need a bike that turns in better.”

Looking ahead to the Grand Prix, his immediate performance target is a top-10 finish. Beyond that, however, Razgatlioglu’s comments shifted to Yamaha’s development priorities for the coming seasons. When asked whether he expects a new engine later in the year, he played down the importance of that question, saying the next year matters more to him personally. “I don’t know, but it’s not that important to me, because next year is more important,” he stated.

Razgatlioglu argued that, with the season already well advanced, Yamaha should avoid chasing major changes on the current 1000cc M1. He suggested that larger development efforts at this stage are no longer the right direction. “I think it would be better for us if Yamaha focuses more on the 850s,” he said. “The season is almost over; we’re not at the beginning anymore. If something new comes now, it’s too late.”

His reasoning ties directly to the sport’s technical reset. With the new regulations coming in 2027, MotoGP engines will drop from 1000cc to 850cc, alongside other technical changes. Razgatlioglu believes the transition offers Yamaha a chance to make a bigger step forward, and he wants the team to concentrate its resources on the machine that will define that restart. “It’s better if we focus on the 850s. That’s my opinion,” he said. “I don’t know if Yamaha will do that. But if they only focus on the 850s, that would be much better for me.”

He also framed 2027 as a fresh challenge for everyone, implying that the best preparation is to commit to the new direction early enough to build competitiveness. “Next year is new for everyone and there’s a new challenge waiting. We have to come back with Yamaha stronger,” Razgatlioglu concluded.

With the remaining races on the current M1, his priorities are learning and adapting, but his message to Yamaha is clear: use the time left to refine his understanding of the bike, while ensuring the development focus is aligned with the 850cc era that begins in 2027.