TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU SAYS TURKISH MOTOGP RETURN MAY NOT BE IN 2027

Toprak Razgatlioglu believes MotoGP could return to Turkey, but he doubts it will happen in 2027. MotoGP last visited Istanbul Park in the 2005–2007 period, with Marco Melandri winning the Turkish Grands Prix in 2006 and Casey Stoner taking the 2007 race in the 800cc era. Razgatlioglu was not present for those events, and he said he “didn’t watch because at that time I was really young,” adding that he was nine years old when MotoGP last raced at Istanbul.

Razgatlioglu’s connection to Istanbul Park is more personal through family and other categories. He explained that “my brother went to Istanbul to watch the MotoGP,” while his own racing involvement came later. He noted that in 2013, during the Superbike visit, he had a race in the UK—“I raced in Silverstone, in Rookies Cup”—and therefore did not attend Istanbul Park. He also pointed out that Istanbul Park has hosted Formula 1 in the 2000s up to 2011, and that F1 returned for the Covid-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons. This year, F1 announced a new five-year contract for Istanbul Park beginning in 2027.

Razgatlioglu said the timing is therefore uncertain, but not ruled out beyond 2027. He described the situation as a longer-term plan, saying, “We have this plan [for a race at Istanbul Park], maybe the future,” and suggested that “looks like maybe not next year, but it’s possible 2028.” He added, “We will see,” and emphasized that work is ongoing: “We are working about this.”

He also linked the prospects to the circuit’s confirmed F1 schedule, stating that “it’s possible, because now Formula 1 has signed already,” and that “next year Formula 1 comes back again to Istanbul Park for the race.” Razgatlioglu said discussions are already underway with the relevant stakeholders, telling Crash.net: “MotoGP, why not? We are talking about this with Dorna, and the federation, and also the government. We will see.”