Razgatlioglu’s future announcement comes simply weeks after he tested a Yamaha MotoGP bike, fuelling hypothesis that the Turkish rider may very well be in line for a grand prix transfer with the Japanese marque.
It was a take a look at attended by Yamaha senior administration, although throughout the Americas Grand Prix weekend Lin Jarvis steered Razgatlioglu’s signing could be unlikely.
“The most important drawback I might say for us anyway is whether or not we’ve got a spot, as a result of ideally… we’ve solely received two bikes on the grid, I believe it’s tough for us to get a satellite tv for pc staff on the grid subsequent yr,” Jarvis stated. “So, we can have two spots solely and each of these two spots we’ll want any individual who’s going to be quick immediately, and maybe Toprak will want extra time to rise up to hurry.”
It is unlikely at that stage in early April Jarvis’ feedback have been linked to Razgatlioglu’s just lately introduced BMW change. In keeping with one among Autosport’s German colleagues within the WSBK paddock, no supply had been made by BMW on the time of the Barcelona spherical in early Could.
In a Yamaha press launch, Razgatlioglu alluded to “an opportunity” to go to MotoGP – however didn’t really feel just like the bike suited as a lot as a Superbike does, and so he has elected to proceed in WSBK with BMW.
Simply how massive that “probability” was is unclear, and possibly unlikely. As Jarvis acknowledged, Yamaha most likely gained’t have a satellite tv for pc staff in 2024 and can want a plug-in-and-play second rider at its manufacturing unit squad. That’s a seat at the moment occupied by Franco Morbidelli, who has struggled since stepping as much as the manufacturing unit squad in the direction of the top of 2021. If it gained’t be him, Pramac’s Jorge Martin has been linked.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pata Yamaha WorldSBK
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Regardless, Razgatlioglu’s determination to remain in WSBK was met with widespread disappointment as a long-asked query will go unanswered: simply how good would he have been in MotoGP?
Most individuals will again the Turkish famous person and his capacity. Nevertheless, his two-day Jerez take a look at outing with Yamaha didn’t precisely set the world on fireplace. Whereas two days isn’t precisely a large period of time to regulate to a motorcycle that’s utterly totally different to what he’s used to, ending the take a look at virtually a second shy of Yamaha’s take a look at rider Cal Crutchlow (whose programme is mostly fairly unfold out throughout a yr) wasn’t a terrific job utility.
With time, nonetheless, there’s no doubting Razgatlioglu’s expertise would have seen him determine it out. Sadly, it’s time Yamaha doesn’t have, and there’s no assure that in 2025 it would achieve a satellite tv for pc squad. Valentino Rossi’s staff has been linked quite a few occasions to this function, with the MotoGP legend latest turning into an official model ambassador. However, given the present type information in MotoGP, it’s exhausting to see him being motivated to ditch Ducati (with which his staff has gained twice already in 2023 and is only one level off the championship lead) for a Yamaha package deal that’s nowhere close to title-fit.
Thus, Razgatlioglu’s determination to remain in WSBK, coupled with Yamaha’s present uncertainty over its satellite tv for pc staff scenario, could properly have shut the door on any WSBK rider making the transfer to MotoGP for a while.
The final riders to have come over from WSBK to MotoGP full time have been Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz in 2015, with the latter lasting the longest by way of to the top of 2017. Each Baz and Laverty’s finest finishes have been fourths. Since then, there have solely been sporadic appearances from WSBK riders in MotoGP. Lorenzo Savadori did contest an element marketing campaign in 2021 with Aprilia, attaining a better of 14th, however was bounced again into his take a look at rider function when Maverick Vinales was signed.
However the final one to have come over efficiently was Crutchlow, who made his MotoGP debut in 2011 with Tech3 after a yr in WSBK in 2010 with Yamaha. Crutchlow finally went on to win three grands prix.
Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Staff WSBK
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
For years, six-time WSBK champion Jonathan Rea was linked to a full-time transfer to MotoGP however turned down a number of gives. That door has firmly closed, and through his dominance it was thought anybody even fascinated with coming to MotoGP needed to beat him. Between 2015 and 2020, no one did, till Razgatlioglu lastly dethroned him in 2021. However except Razgatlioglu proves profitable at BMW (and that’s a tricky ask), the MotoGP paddock will shortly lose curiosity.
And if MotoGP loses curiosity in Razgatlioglu, it’s not going to grow to be enthused by anybody else on that grid. Reigning world champion Alvaro Bautista has already had his time in MotoGP, as has Danilo Petrucci; Rea has made his determination, whereas Baz’s alternative has handed.
Michael van der Mark was in one thing of the same place to Razgatlioglu and hailed as a possible MotoGP rider. However he did not do a lot on his two-race run with Tech3 Yamaha in 2017, ending exterior of the factors: 16th in Malaysia, 56.397s off the win, and 52.134s off the victory in 17th in Valencia.
Alex Lowes faired a bit higher in his two-race run with Tech3 in 2016, ending 13th on the British Grand Prix – 40.1s off the win, however solely a second behind full-timer Eugene Laverty. Lowes failed to complete the San Marino GP.
Of the present WSBK crop exterior of Razgatlioglu, the one viable candidate to have a imprecise shot at a MotoGP experience is Remy Gardner – who, after one season with Tech3 KTM, was booted out of his seat. However the a lot shorter WSBK calendar and basic bitterness he has about his dismissal by KTM on the finish of 2022 has most likely altered his personal ambitions.
Razgatlioglu may properly have been the rider who opened the door once more.
However given the overall lack of appropriate candidates and the dwindling quantity of success WSBK riders have had coming to MotoGP – coupled with the groundswell of expertise arising the grand prix ranks now – it’s exhausting to image anybody from WSBK being given the chance now for the foreseeable future.
