TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU SAYS PIRELLI SWITCH WON’T FIX HIS PROBLEMS WITHOUT BETTER CORNERING SPEED

Toprak Razgatlioglu says the switch back to Pirelli tyres from 2027 could help him, but insists it will not be a cure-all for the problems he has faced since moving from World Superbike to MotoGP. Speaking to Speedweek, the Pramac rider acknowledged that tyre degradation has already played a role in his results, pointing to Aragon as a recent example where the wear affected his race.

Razgatlioglu’s comments come as MotoGP prepares to end its Michelin partnership, giving him another chance to ride on Pirelli—an environment he knows from his WSBK experience. Many observers expect that familiarity to translate into better performance once the tyre change arrives. However, the Turkish rider believes the key issue is not simply the rubber underneath him. He argued that his riding “style” is not built around the kind of pace he needs in MotoGP’s cornering phases.

“Cornering speed isn’t my style. If I learn that this year, I might need it next year,” Razgatlioglu told Speedweek. He added that while the Pirelli tyre “might suit my style better,” he still needs to raise his cornering speed to make the most of Yamaha’s package. “Of course, the Pirelli tyre might suit my style better. But I also need cornering speed. Maybe that will help me next year and in the future,” he said.

This season, Razgatlioglu has struggled to find consistent results for Pramac, and he has largely shifted his mindset toward learning for 2027 rather than chasing immediate breakthroughs. The move from WSBK to MotoGP has been difficult for him, and he has previously highlighted that tyre differences have been part of the challenge since his arrival.

While there is also concern that Yamaha may not provide the bike Razgatlioglu wants, he said the priority right now is absorbing as much information as possible and developing skills through racing. Razgatlioglu’s focus, as he frames it, is on using this tough period to gather data, understand what he should be doing at key moments in races, and build the foundation that could make the 2027 transition more productive for both himself and Pramac.