Toprak Razgatlioglu admitted he came close to calling it a day during a miserable Austrian Grand Prix, with the Yamaha rider struggling so badly for grip that he considered returning to the pits.
The reigning World Superbike champion started 22nd on the grid and could make little progress during Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring. He eventually finished 20th, 46 seconds behind winner Pedro Acosta, leaving him without a point.
For Razgatlioglu, however, the biggest frustration was how quickly the grip disappeared.
“I am very shocked because at the beginning, in the first five laps, I was not feeling any grip. I just felt the bike spinning,” he said after the race.
The Turkish rider explained that the problem was present almost immediately rather than developing as the race went on. With the Yamaha M1 struggling to put its power down, he found himself questioning whether it was worth continuing.
“I’m also sometimes thinking about coming back to the box, but I’m just respecting Yamaha by continuing to ride,” Razgatlioglu said.
He described the Austrian GP as the “second worst” race of his life, underlining just how difficult his latest MotoGP weekend had been.
The result also highlighted Yamaha’s wider struggles. The manufacturer is continuing to develop its V4-powered M1, but the package has yet to deliver consistent competitiveness, while the conditions at Spielberg appeared to make its problems even more difficult to manage.
Michelin brought a stiffer rear tyre carcass to Austria to cope with the demands of the Red Bull Ring, but the change did not appear to suit Yamaha. Razgatlioglu’s struggles also followed similar concerns raised by factory teammate Fabio Quartararo about the bike’s performance.
Despite the disappointment, Razgatlioglu remains focused on what Yamaha can achieve in the future.
With major regulation changes coming in 2027, the Turkish rider believes the manufacturer is already working hard to improve its package and prepare for the next phase of MotoGP.
“They are really working hard for the next year, and also trying to improve the bike,” he said.
For now, however, Razgatlioglu’s first MotoGP season continues to be a difficult learning experience. After arriving in the premier class as one of World Superbike’s biggest stars, he is still searching for the performance needed to fight at the front.
