Toprak Razgatlioglu’s manager Kenan Sofuoğlu is reported to have informed BMW that the Turkish rider wants to make a switch over to MotoGP for the 2025 season.
Razgatlioglu’s current deal with BMW is a two-year deal which expires at the end of 2025, but Sofuoğlu suggests that a MotoGP clause could be included in the terms..
Sofuoğlu told Speedweek: “There is a lot of interest in Toprak in the MotoGP paddock, already for next year.
“We have a two-year contract with BMW, but I have already informed BMW that we want to leave the Superbike World Championship at the end of this year and move to MotoGP.
“I explained to them that this is Toprak’s wish.”
Sofuoğlu stated that Razgatlioglu will make the plunge providing he is offered a position with a works squad, but both KTM and Ducati have filled up their 2025 seats.
The options available appear slim and would leave him with Honda as the sole choice as Aprilia is pursuing Marco Bezzecchi’s signature to partner with Jorge Martin.
Despite winning the 2021 WorldSBK championship with Yamaha, Razgatlioglu ended his affiliation with the Japanese marque at the end of last term to move to BMW.
Razgatlioglu is no stranger to GP bikes, however, having completed several private tests with Yamaha on an M1 through the nascent stages of the previous campaign.
BWM is understood to be looking at a potential MotoGP venture in 2027, which will coincide with the biggest shake-up to the regulations throughout the MotoGP era.
It has been suggested that the current WorldSBK championship leader could move over should BMW decide to enter MotoGP, but he would’ve turned 30 at that stage.
Toprak is doing an amazing job in WSBK and is a joy to watch. But moving to MotoGp is a whole different game and it would likely take him a couple of seasons to find his feet if he ever does. In that, his age is playing against him so I doubt that any top teams will take a chance on him. He should finish his career in WSBK and be regarded as one of the greats.