Toprak Razgatlıoğlu Still Adapting to MotoGP’s Michelin Tyre

MotoGP rookie Toprak Razgatlıoğlu gained valuable insight by following his team-mate Jack Miller during the Sepang test; however, the rider is reportedly struggling with tyre issues.

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Toprak Razgatlıoğlu came within touching distance of his personal target during the Sepang MotoGP test, but the rookie star ultimately fell just short of breaking into the 1m57s bracket as he continues adapting to life on a MotoGP machine.

The reigning WorldSBK champion posted a best lap of 1m58.326s on the final day of testing after Yamaha’s programme had been interrupted on day two due to a technical issue. His time placed him only a fraction behind Jack Miller, his Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team-mate, who showed consistent pace both in time attack and Sprint-style simulation runs.

However, Razgatlioglu remained 0.746s off the fastest Yamaha rider, Alex Rins, and nearly two seconds adrift of the benchmark time set by Alex Marquez on the Gresini Ducati.

Strong on the Brakes, Learning in Long Corners

Razgatlıoğlu admitted he is still working to understand how much he needs to modify his natural riding style for the Yamaha V4. “On braking, I’m strong. I can brake hard and stop the bike — that’s perfect. But the long corners, I still don’t understand. Jack is very strong in the long corners.”

Following Miller for several laps proved valuable for the Turkish rider, helping him study corner approach techniques that remain tricky at this early stage of his MotoGP transition.

Michelin Rear Tyre: The Biggest Adjustment

A key area of difficulty is adapting from Pirelli tyres in WorldSBK to MotoGP’s Michelin rear tyre characteristics. Razgatlıoğlu explained that while the front tyre feedback feels good, the rear tyre is far more sensitive and less forgiving when spinning.

“The Pirelli, when you feel the spin, it’s easy to manage. But when the Michelin spins, it doesn’t stop again.”

He noted that MotoGP demands a much smoother throttle application, closer to a Moto2 riding style, a major turnover from his Superbike habit of aggressively using rear tyre slides to rotate the bike and drive out of corners.

Set-up Changes and ‘Touring Bike’ Handlebars

To help his adaptation, Yamaha has already experimented with a higher handlebar position, a move Razgatlioglu joked about. “Yeah, I’m riding a touring bike now!”

The position improves his braking confidence but comes with trade-offs, including reduced top speed and more difficulty tucking in on the straights. Further suspension adjustments are also being considered to improve turning support and rear grip.

Eyes on Buriram

The next and final test before Razgatlıoğlu’s MotoGP race debut will take place at Buriram later this month. With strong braking already a clear strength, the focus now shifts to long-corner technique, tyre management, and refining bike set-up to unlock the next step in performance.