Yamaha Team Manager Massimo Meregalli has confirmed that World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu will be testing one of its MotoGP machines later this year.
Speaking to MotoGP.com during the second day of official pre-season testing at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, the Italian revealed that talks were well underway to allow Razgatlioglu to sample Yamaha’s M1 for the first time in “June or August”.
A possible test shortly after a run scheduled after Jerez test in November last year was canned due to the date change for the final round of the World Superbike championship in Indonesia, the event at which the Turkish ace scored his maiden WSBK championship in his second year with the factory Yamaha outfit.
Meregalli admitted he was “really curious” to see what Razgatlioglu could do on the M1 following his “amazing” charge to WSBK supremacy in 2021, though the test would depend on the calendars of both parties matching up.
“At or just after the Jerez test we planned a test for him, but then Indonesia organised the final (world) superbike race and he had to fly there,” said Meregalli.
“But this year based on Cal’s (Crutchlow, Yamaha test rider) calendar we have to find a day that will suit his (Razgatlioglu) and our schedule.
“It will for sure be interesting, and of course he really deserves this opportunity because what he did last year (World Superbike title) was amazing, so I’m really curious to see what he can do on an M1.
“We have a potential schedule already and there are two possibilities, one in June and the other in August but we are still not sure but as soon as we are ready we will decide together.”
Razgatlioglu’s run to become the first man to defeat Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea to a WSBK title since 2014 was also Yamaha’s first championship in the series since Ben Spies’ success in 2009, only the manufacturers second ever accolade in the championship.
He was in talks to join the Petronas SRT MotoGP outfit for 2022 earlier this year before the squad folded, though he ultimately elected to remain in the WSBK paddock for another year anyway as he looked to secure a title in that series before making the switch to grand prix racing.
The 18-time WSBK race winner was also offered a ride to replace the injured Franco Morbidelli at the Malaysian organisation for the Dutch TT last season, though decided against taking part- leaving Yamaha WSBK colleague Garrett Gerloff to deputise instead.
The championship now secured, Razgatioglu has previously admitted that it is an ambition of his is to race in MotoGP, his most likely destination should he make the switch in 2023 being the new RNF Yamaha outfit that was born from the ashes of Petronas SRT for this term, the squad currently running Andrea Dovizioso and rookie Darryn Binder.
