Toprak Razgatlioglu, the reigning World Superbikes champion, is set to join MotoGP next year, but he faces a formidable challenge in the form of Marc Marquez. With Marquez's recent dominance, winning 11 races and 14 sprints in 18 rounds before his injury, and securing the world championship with five rounds to spare, he's back on top after a six-year title drought. His imperious form in 2025 suggests he'll be a tough beat before his retirement from MotoGP. Despite being the second-oldest rider on the grid at 32, Alex Marquez predicts his brother will remain fast 'until his last day' in the class.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, however, has a different perspective. In an interview, he highlighted the 'very strange' nature of MotoGP, suggesting that Marc Marquez's talent wasn't fully recognized during his final years at Honda. While Marquez only won three out of 42 races between 2020 and 2023, this was largely due to the team's decline in competitiveness. Since leaving Honda for Gresini and then joining Ducati, Marquez has reminded the world of his 'best' abilities.
Razgatlioglu, who wishes he could have raced against Valentino Rossi, is eager to take on Marquez, with whom he's had several conversations. Marquez himself congratulated Razgatlioglu after his WSBK title win, and the Turkish superstar is now looking forward to racing against him in MotoGP. Razgatlioglu acknowledges Marquez's talent, stating, 'Marc Marquez is a big talent. Finally, when he's moved to the bike, he shows the potential again.'
However, the question remains: can Razgatlioglu beat Marquez? As a 'rookie' in MotoGP next year, despite being 29, he's quick to point out that it's not easy to make such predictions. He suggests that it will be easier to assess his chances at the end of 2026. Razgatlioglu believes he can achieve 'special' things in 2027 after a year of adaptation and with the advantage of knowing the Pirelli tyres. His move to the Yamaha satellite team Pramac, replacing Miguel Oliveira, presents an opportunity for him to make a mark in the sport.
