TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU SAYS YAMAHA MUST IMPROVE IF HE’S TO CHALLENGE NICCOLO BULEGA IN 2027

Toprak Razgatlioglu believes Nicolo Bulega’s move to MotoGP will decide the tone of the 850cc era—unless Yamaha can significantly improve its package. The Turkish rider, who has been a direct rival of Bulega in WorldSBK, is set to face him again in the prototype class after VR46 signed the Italian for the 2027 MotoGP season.

Razgatlioglu and Bulega dominated World Superbike in 2024 and 2025, with the pair separated by only the machinery beneath them. Bulega then switched to MotoGP in 2026 with Pramac, and his impact in WorldSBK has been so strong that Razgatlioglu’s presence has been the missing piece: the report notes that Bulega has effectively been in a class of one in the Ducati-powered WorldSBK field this year. For 2027, Bulega will follow Razgatlioglu into MotoGP after signing a one-year factory Ducati contract with VR46, marking his full-time debut in the series. The 26-year-old previously made his MotoGP debut for Ducati as a stand-in rider, replacing Marc Marquez in 2025.

Razgatlioglu’s expectation is blunt: he anticipates Bulega will beat him in MotoGP unless Yamaha “improve” the bike. He also framed the situation around the upcoming technical reset. MotoGP is reducing engine capacity from 1,000cc to 850cc, banning ride-height and holeshot devices, adding further aero restrictions, and switching tyre supplier from Michelin to Pirelli. In Razgatlioglu’s view, those changes could play directly into Bulega’s strengths, because he believes the Italian’s riding style matches what the new regulations will demand.

Speaking via Motosprint, Razgatlioglu said: “If our bike improves next year, it would be great to battle with him like we did in Superbikes.” He added, “I’m happy for him because he deserves to be in MotoGP. He has a riding style that’s perfectly suited to MotoGP, and he’ll be able to prove it because he’ll have a great package.”

The Turkish rider’s confidence in Ducati’s preparation is tied to the fact that Bulega has already been heavily involved in the development work for the 850cc machinery. The report states that Ducati made Bulega an official MotoGP test rider for 2026 and relied on him through a series of private test events, while Bulega has also extensively tested the 850cc bike ahead of the new era.

Razgatlioglu contrasts that with his own 2026 experience. Although he previously beat Bulega to WorldSBK titles in 2024 and 2025 with BMW—winning 18 races in 2024 and 21 in 2025—his MotoGP rookie campaign has been described as miserable. He is currently in his two-year factory Yamaha contract with Pramac, and the report attributes his struggles to the need to adapt to Michelin tyres, the 1,000cc engines, and Yamaha’s underdeveloped bike. With the 850cc transition approaching, he expects those challenges may persist unless Yamaha delivers a step forward.

Bulega’s current form in WorldSBK underlines why Razgatlioglu is wary. The report notes that Bulega has won all but one of the 27 WorldSBK races this season, and that he heads toward Cremona with 553 points, leading Ducati teammate Iker Lecuona by 146 points. While Bulega has the chance to win his first WorldSBK title on home soil at round 10/12, Razgatlioglu is focused on whether Yamaha can close the gap before the prototype rules take effect.

The article also references Neil Hodgson’s recurring claim that Bulega will have an “unfair advantage” when he arrives at VR46, arguing that Ducati have effectively built their 850cc bike around him. For Razgatlioglu, the message is clear: if Yamaha improves, he can fight Bulega again; if it doesn’t, he expects the Italian to take the upper hand.