Toprak Razgatlioglu may finally be finding his footing in MotoGP, but one lingering weakness continues to stand between the Pramac rookie and a true breakthrough.
The Turkish rider left the recent Barcelona MotoGP test encouraged after making clear progress with the bike’s handling, especially on the medium tyre compound. Improvements in corner entry allowed the three-time World Superbike champion to carry the bike through turns more naturally and accelerate earlier on corner exits.
Razgatlioglu said the latest setup changes helped the Ducati turn more effectively, producing more stable and consistent lap times throughout the session.
“I’m happy because we improved a lot, especially with the medium tyre,” he explained. “We made a really big step with the corner entry. The bike is turning better and acceleration becomes easier because I can pick the bike up earlier.”
Despite the gains, the test also exposed the same issue that has troubled him since joining MotoGP. Once the softer qualifying tyre was fitted, his pace immediately stalled.
Source: Red Bull
Razgatlioglu admitted that his riding instincts from World Superbikes continue to interfere with his adaptation to Michelin MotoGP tyres. While MotoGP riders rely heavily on maintaining corner speed, the Turkish rider still naturally approaches corners with a stop-and-go style focused on strong braking and aggressive acceleration out of the turn.
“When I put on the soft tyre, immediately my mind changes. I start riding more like a superbike,” he said.
The difference became even clearer when comparing data with Fabio Quartararo, who was able to carry significantly more speed through corners on the soft tyre. Razgatlioglu acknowledged that Mugello’s flowing layout will demand exactly that type of riding style.
His qualifying struggles have already had a major impact on his rookie MotoGP campaign. Starting deep on the grid has repeatedly left him fighting through traffic rather than battling with the front group.
After crashing in Q1 at the Catalan Grand Prix, Razgatlioglu was again forced to recover from the back of the field. So far, his best results remain 15th at the United States Grand Prix and 13th at Le Mans, leaving him 22nd in the championship standings.
“Qualifying is very important,” he said. “If you start near the front, you can stay with the leading group. But when you start at the back, it’s not easy to come forward.”
Attention now turns to Mugello, one of the fastest and most technical circuits on the calendar. With its sweeping corners and emphasis on corner speed, the Italian track could become the clearest indication yet of whether Razgatlioglu is beginning to fully adapt to MotoGP machinery.
The Turkish rookie remains optimistic after the Barcelona improvements and hopes the momentum can continue into the Italian Grand Prix weekend.
“Mugello needs a lot of corner speed,” he said. “There is less heavy braking there, and Fabio is always very strong. I need to follow him immediately from the first session.”
