Pramac Yamaha rider Toprak Razgatlioglu will undergo shoulder surgery following his Indonesian GP crash, ruling him out of the remaining five rounds of his rookie MotoGP season.
Shoulder surgery ends Razgatlioglu’s rookie campaign early
Following a violent FP2 highside at Turn 13 during the Indonesian Grand Prix in Mandalika, Toprak Razgatlioglu will undergo shoulder surgery, forcing him to miss the rest of the 2026 MotoGP season.
Though the initial dislocation was popped back into place trackside – allowing the Turkish rider to qualify P19, complete the Sprint in the same position, and start Sunday’s race before retiring after eight laps – further examinations in Milan revealed more extensive damage.
Doctors advised that surgery, scheduled for October 26, is the path to a full recovery. The operation will keep the three-time WorldSBK champion sidelined for the final five rounds of the year.
“After further medical assessments following the crash in Mandalika, it became clear that my shoulder injury is worse than we first believed,” he explained. “As a result, I will undergo surgery in the coming days to give myself the best chance of making a full recovery and returning at 100%. This wasn’t an easy decision, but after consulting with the doctors and the people closest to me, we are convinced it is the right step for my future.”
A tough pill to swallow for the Turkish rider
This premature end to his campaign is a bitter blow for Razgatlioglu, who has faced a steep learning curve during his transition to the premier class. His points tally for his maiden MotoGP season will stall at 18 units.
The news also means he will miss the final MotoGP event at Phillip Island before the Australian Grand Prix transitions to Adelaide next season.
“I’m extremely disappointed to miss the Australian Grand Prix,” Razgatlioglu regretted. “Phillip Island is one of my favourite circuits and a place where I’ve enjoyed some very special moments during my Superbike career. I was excited about the opportunity to race here on the MotoGP bike, which makes this situation even harder to accept.”
“We are very sorry for Toprak, as we know how much he wanted to race at Phillip Island and continue his journey with the YZR-M1, Gino Borsoi, Pramac’s team director, added. “He has been working hard to adapt to MotoGP, and it is disappointing that this injury will prevent him from continuing that process over the coming races. However, his health must come first, and we will support him throughout his recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the bike when he is ready.
Augusto Fernandez steps in at Pramac Yamaha
Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez will step in to replace Razgatlioglu starting at Phillip Island. The Australian Grand Prix will mark the Spaniard’s fifth appearance of the season, following his most recent outing at the British GP, where he finished 15th.
“We welcome Augusto Fernandez, who will step in for Toprak at Phillip Island until Toprak is ready to come back,” Gino Borsoi noted. “As Yamaha’s test rider, he knows the bike well, and we are pleased to have him joining the team for these events. We will work together to make the most of this opportunity while wishing Toprak a successful operation and a smooth recovery.”
Finally, it marks teammate Jack Miller’s final MotoGP home race at Phillip Island before his move to WorldSBK in 2027.
“I would also like to wish Jack all the best for his home Grand Prix,” Razgatlioglu insisted. “Racing in front of your home crowd is always special, and with this being the final MotoGP event at Phillip Island, I hope he can enjoy a fantastic weekend and achieve a great result. I’ll be cheering for him and the entire team from afar.”
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