The 2026 MotoGP season promises a historic moment as rookies Toprak Razgatlioglu from Turkiye and Brazil’s Diogo Moreira prepare to take to the tracks at the opening round in Thailand. Both riders bring distinct backgrounds and experiences, set against a backdrop of major changes ahead for the sport, including the shift to 850cc machines in 2027.
Razgatlioglu, a seasoned World Superbikes champion, and Moreira, a rising star who recently claimed the Moto2 title, will become rare MotoGP rookies entering a transformative phase for the series. Their arrival highlights a break from the traditionally Spain– and Italy-dominated rider lineup and adds a fresh international dimension to the premier motorcycle racing championship.
Toprak Razgatlioglu’s Gradual Rise from Superbikes to MotoGP
Toprak Razgatlioglu is no stranger to the motorcycle racing world, having built a formidable reputation in World Superbikes before taking the step into MotoGP. As the son of a renowned Turkish stunt rider, he carved out his place through three Superbikes world championships across eight seasons, winning titles with Yamaha in 2021 and a back-to-back championship run with BMW in 2024 and 2025.
Despite his strong legacy in Superbikes, Razgatlioglu’s transition to MotoGP has not been simple. Historically, few Superbikes riders have made the move upward, with only a handful like Loris Baz and Ben Spies having attempted it in the past decade. Razgatlioglu’s choice to jump from Superbikes to MotoGP reverses the more typical career path, where older MotoGP riders often move into Superbikes as a secondary option.
The rookie is currently competing as a teammate to Australia’s Jack Miller at Pramac Yamaha, but on a bike that many regard as slower than its competitors. Pre-season testing in Malaysia and Thailand exposed the challenges Razgatlioglu faces adapting to unfamiliar tracks, intricate electronics, and Michelin tires, which contrast sharply with the Pirelli tires he dominated on in Superbikes. His lap times lagged significantly behind even some of the slower Yamaha riders, underscoring the learning curve he faces.
During a race simulation in Thailand, Razgatlioglu tried to improve by following Miller’s lines through challenging corners. Reflecting on this experience, he admitted:
“When I was following Jack, I was surprised … I lost him in two corners,”
he said.
“I’m always riding a little bit more calm, I don’t trust the front tyre. On braking it’s OK, but when I lean, I don’t know the limit. When I saw Jack at the first corner, he’s leaning a lot. I’m waiting for his crash, and after when I see he’s turning I’m also surprised.
He added that the lap times have been frustrating but acknowledged the need for adaptation:
“I’m always thinking corner by corner, trying to do my best, but the lap time is not coming and always I’m getting sad. But I know this because when I moved to MotoGP I understood very clearly that the tyres and the bike will be very different, and I need to adapt to this.
“On the brakes, I can do hard braking, but when I am leaning, I don’t really trust the front tyre because the other riders lean completely and the bike turns.
I haven’t crashed … maybe I need to crash to understand the limit.”
Razgatlioglu explained that moving to MotoGP earlier in his career wasn’t the right choice:
“Before when I won the [2021] championship with Yamaha in Superbikes, it was not the right time to move to MotoGP,”
he noted.
“I tried the MotoGP bike then, but I don’t like [it]. Everything is different – seat position, everything – I don’t like and continued with Superbikes. But when I won the [Superbikes] championship with BMW, everyone started to talk to me about MotoGP, and I say ‘maybe this is the right time’.”
He described Superbikes as a relatively easier category to master, likening it to a more traditional street bike, whereas MotoGP presents a much tougher challenge. Razgatlioglu views 2026 as a year focused on learning and adaptation, with hope for a stronger 2027 as rules change and new equipment arrives, including Yamaha’s expected improvements and the return of Pirelli as the tire supplier:
“For me everything is new, but I’m ready to learn. I need to adapt. It’s why I’m starting in 2026.”
Off the track, Razgatlioglu finds the increased media spotlight a noticeable difference but prefers his celebrated antics, such as the gravity-defying stoppies he performed in Superbikes, to follow better race results rather than being premature:
“The first time in the MotoGP paddock … I’m not [someone who likes] a lot of interviews and photo shoots … I don’t like a lot the cameras but this is part of the job,”
he chuckled.
“In Superbikes, I made stoppies with a good result. MotoGP, I’m still learning … I don’t like to immediately make some show. A good result together with the show … I like more like this.”
Diogo Moreira: Brazil’s First MotoGP Racer in Nearly Two Decades
Diogo Moreira carries the hopes of a nation not typically associated with motorcycle racing, which stands in stark contrast to Brazil’s rich Formula 1 legacy featuring legends like Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, and Emerson Fittipaldi. Born in Guarulhos near Sao Paulo, Moreira’s early exposure to motocross came through his father, Luiz, before he transitioned to road racing and moved to Spain at 13 to chase his dream—following in the footsteps of his idol Marc Marquez.
While Razgatlioglu was testing MotoGP bikes in 2022, Moreira was just starting his rookie Moto3 season, achieving his first career win in 2023. Quickly rising through the ranks, he progressed to Moto2 at age 19, becoming the first Brazilian at that level since Alex Barros in 2007.
The 2025 Moto2 season was a testament to Moreira’s rapid development. After a slow start that left him trailing championship leader Manuel Gonzalez by 61 points after six rounds, Moreira surged to win four races and take five additional podiums, clinching the title on the final day in Valencia. Already confirmed as a Honda LCR MotoGP rider for 2026 alongside veteran Johann Zarco, Moreira enters the premier class at a pivotal moment for Brazil, which will host its first Grand Prix since 2004 at the Goiania circuit named in honor of Senna this March.
Moreira has approached his rookie season calmly, focusing on adapting to the new demands of MotoGP machinery and a step up from Moto2. Pre-season testing at Sepang and Buriram revealed a steady but not spectacular performance, and he remains unfazed by the challenge or his status as teammate to Zarco, now the oldest rider in the series at 35.
Reflecting on his relationship with Zarco, Moreira said:
“We met the first time two years ago, we trained together,”
Moreira recalled about the 2023 Australian Grand Prix winner.
“For sure it’s an amazing bike. In Moto2 the maximum speed was 290km/h, more or less … here, it’s 340km/h. You need to be able to stop this bike on the brakes … it’s a lot! But very fun to ride.
He highlighted the importance of learning and enjoying the process:
“After the first lap [in testing] when I put the bike on the straight and opened the full gas, I felt the power. We need to understand the bike and learn the lines and this is a bit different for me, but in the end it’s a bike so we need to ride the same as last year, but understand a bit more the engine and the Michelin tyres.
“Many people ask about goals, but in the end we need to enjoy. I have all the year to learn the bike, but if I enjoy I will go fast so I need to be focused on that point, and stay always in the same mentality.”
The 2027 Regulation Shift Offers Uncommon Opportunities for Both Riders
The upcoming major overhaul of MotoGP regulations in 2027, featuring new 850cc bikes and a switch to Pirelli tires, creates a rare window for rookies like Razgatlioglu and Moreira to develop with extended timelines. This period of transition offers a strategic advantage to both riders, likely increasing the importance of adaptation and learning in their debut season.
Razgatlioglu’s history as a multiple Superbikes champion suggests a strong potential to quickly adjust and compete at the front, while Moreira’s recent Moto2 title provides evidence of his capacity to rise swiftly through the ranks. Their contrasting backgrounds—from the flamboyant showman from Turkiye to the focused Brazilian prodigy—add depth to the narrative of MotoGP’s evolving international profile.
Ultimately, this rookie duo embodies the blend of experience, youth, and cultural diversity that the MotoGP championship will revolve around in the years ahead. As both prepare to make their official debuts in 2026, fans worldwide will keenly observe how these riders tackle the pressures of the premier class and the challenges of an ever-changing sport.
