TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU PUSHES FOR TURKISH MOTOGP RETURN IN 2028

Toprak Razgatlioglu says he is personally involved in efforts to return a Turkish MotoGP to the calendar. The 29-year-old acknowledged that securing a 2027 race at Istanbul Park would be difficult, but he added that work is ongoing to make sure Turkey hosts a MotoGP event in 2028.

Speaking at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Razgatlioglu explained that attempts were made to push for Istanbul in 2027, but “there is no chance” of getting the circuit on the schedule for next year. Instead, he said the focus has shifted to 2028, adding: “Now we’re talking about 2028 and working on it — there’s a chance to bring MotoGP back.”

Razgatlioglu also stressed what a home race would mean for him personally. “If we manage to do that, then I have to deliver a strong result there — that’s the biggest problem and it puts a lot of pressure on me,” he said. He noted that Istanbul Park is a track he knows well and described it as a circuit with “a long straight,” “beautiful” sections and “fast corners.” He added that he has already driven there before, saying: “The last time I was there I drove there with my car.”

The Turkish rider’s comments come against the backdrop of Istanbul Park’s recent motorsport history. Formula 1 raced at the 5.33-kilometre venue every year from 2005 to 2011, and during the COVID-19 period it was used twice on short notice. In 2020, Lewis Hamilton won a historic seventh world title in Turkey, and in 2021 the championship returned again for the dramatic finale of that legendary season. Speedweek also points out that F1’s comeback from 2027 is already agreed, with a contract running through 2031.

Razgatlioglu’s push for MotoGP has been part of broader efforts since his first Superbike title in 2021, when there were renewed attempts to bring the Superbike World Championship back to Istanbul Park — where it had only appeared once before, in 2013. With Razgatlioglu’s move into MotoGP, the ideas of promoter Liberty have also evolved: the premier class has visited Istanbul Park three times so far, from the circuit’s opening in 2005 through 2007.

Razgatlioglu’s current Yamaha contract runs until the end of 2027. Speedweek reports that if Yamaha does not deliver a significant improvement with the new technical rules from 2027, Razgatlioglu believes strong results will be difficult to achieve — a situation that could complicate his negotiations for 2028, when he will be 31.

The report also highlights why Istanbul Park’s return is not straightforward from a business standpoint. Since both MotoGP and Formula 1 share the same owner, Liberty, the groundwork is already in place, but the economic side of staging a major event in Turkey remains challenging. Speedweek notes that currency swings make costs hard to predict: the euro has been worth far more in Turkish lira terms than it was in 2006, and international contracts are often agreed in euros or US dollars, leaving organizers exposed to exchange-rate volatility.

Finally, the article points to wider economic pressures, including high inflation and the role of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s policies, which experts say contribute to rising living costs and make long-term planning more difficult.