TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU PRAISES IZAN GUEVARA AFTER YAMAHA CONFIRMS PRAMAC MOVE FOR 2027

Yamaha’s latest 2027 reshuffle has set the stage for Izan Guevara’s MotoGP debut with Pramac, and Toprak Razgatlioglu says the move is exactly what the premier class needs. The Spanish rider will step up from Pramac’s Moto2 programme to the team’s MotoGP entry next year, taking a one-year factory Yamaha contract and partnering Razgatlioglu in 2027.

The announcement landed shortly after Yamaha confirmed that Jack Miller will leave Pramac at the end of the 2026 season. Yamaha chose not to extend Miller’s factory contract after two years with the Tuscan squad, bringing an end to his long MotoGP stint. The report notes that Miller is believed to have already signed a World Superbike deal with Yamaha, which would end a 12-year run in MotoGP that has produced four Grand Prix wins and 23 podiums from 211 races.

For Razgatlioglu, Guevara’s promotion is more than a simple career progression. He described himself as “very happy” for the 22-year-old, stressing that Guevara “truly deserves this position” and highlighting his youth as a key factor. Razgatlioglu also framed the timing of the step as beneficial for adaptation, saying MotoGP “needs the younger generation” and that Guevara is “completing his journey from Moto3, Moto2 and now MotoGP.”

The Turkish rider pointed to how Guevara already rides in a way that resembles a MotoGP style. “His riding style already resembles that of a MotoGP rider, which is a very positive detail,” Razgatlioglu said, adding that he believes the Spaniard “will be very successful in the future.”

Razgatlioglu also argued that the technical direction of MotoGP will make the transition smoother. He said it will be “easier for him to adapt” because the new 850cc engines are “quite similar to Moto2.” He added that Guevara is arriving “at exactly the right time,” with the sport moving into a new era of regulations.

Guevara’s path to MotoGP has already been marked by title success in the lower categories, with the report stating he won the 2022 Moto3 championship and may also be in contention for the 2026 Moto2 crown. Ahead of the Aragon Grand Prix, he sits second in the intermediate standings, 42.5 points behind Manuel Gonzalez.

The wider context is that multiple teams are treating 2027 as a chance to bring in younger talent as the grid changes. With Miller’s departure and other expected exits, Razgatlioglu’s view is that opportunities are opening for the next wave. The report also notes that MotoGP’s move from 1,000cc to 850cc engines will coincide with bans on ride-height and holeshot devices, additional aero restrictions, and a tyre switch from Michelin to Pirelli.

Razgatlioglu’s comments come as the sport prepares for a generational shift. The report lists Johann Zarco and Marc Marquez among the older riders due to return in 2027, while Franco Morbidelli is expected to move to World Superbike and Maverick Viñales is likely to retire at 31. As those spaces clear, the grid is expected to welcome younger riders, including Nicolo Bulega once VR46 and Ducati confirm his move and Tech3 reveals the signing of Senna Agius. It also mentions that David Alonso has already signed a factory Honda contract and Daniel Holgado has signed for Gresini.

In Razgatlioglu’s view, Guevara’s promotion to Pramac is a timely match between a rider’s development and MotoGP’s changing technical landscape—one that he believes will help the Spaniard settle in quickly and make an impact in his first season in the class.