Pirro finds some humour in Razgatlioglu’s early MotoGP struggles.
Michele Pirro couldn’t help but crack a smile when talking about Toprak Razgatlioglu’s rocky start to life in MotoGP, pointing to tyre adaptation as one of the biggest hurdles riders face when making the switch.
After winning his third World Superbike title, Razgatlioglu made the jump to MotoGP in 2026. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Pramac Yamaha rider, who has yet to score a point after two rounds.
His best finish so far is 17th place, which he managed in both Thailand and Brazil. He also crashed out during his debut Sprint race while running 15th and finished 18th in the Goiania Sprint.
Yamaha and Pramac never expected things to be easy for Razgatlioglu early on. The Turkish rider is still getting used to a much different bike setup than what he had in Superbikes – including more advanced aerodynamics, ride height systems, and a switch from Pirelli to Michelin tyres.
Michele Pirro says Toprak Razgatlioglu’s tough start highlights how hard adapting to MotoGP can be
Razgatlioglu called it “impossible” to ride the Yamaha in Brazil, struggling with front brake issues throughout the Sprint Race. Only Pramac teammate Jack Miller finished behind him, while Fabio Quartararo took sixth, 15.316 seconds ahead.
Pirro believes Razgatlioglu will improve as he gains more experience with both the Yamaha M1 and Michelin tyres. The Ducati test rider also said it’s a reminder of how tough adapting to new equipment can be for any rider.
Pirro told Moto.it: “It makes me smile because, well, I’m a bit older now, but I think I’ve adapted in the past, having always changed tyres and bikes and having raced in MotoGP with Bridgestone, Pirelli, Michelin and Dunlop. It’s not easy.
“It’s not easy, because when you’re seven to eight tenths off the pace in MotoGP, you’re practically last now. If you lose seven to eight tenths of a second, you’re last, which means half a tenth per corner. It’s not easy, even for a champion like him.
“I’m sure he’ll have the chance to close the gap, but we need to give him time. So, like everything else, it takes time and fine-tuning those details that are needed.
“Obviously, if you’re five seconds off, it’s much easier. When you’re half a tenth off per corner, fine-tuning isn’t easy.”
Razgatlioglu is picking up new details about the Yamaha M1 every time he gets out on track for Pramac, but fully adjusting could take a while yet. Honda’s Luca Marini even suggested Razgatlioglu might not truly settle in until 2027, given what lies ahead.
This year will be MotoGP’s last with 1000cc bikes before switching over to 850cc engines in 2027 – a season that will also bring in Pirelli tyres and bans on ride height devices. Many tracks are still unfamiliar to him as well.
While following Quartararo during the Brazilian GP, Razgatlioglu noticed how much better his teammate was under acceleration over one lap – though both ended outside points positions by race end.
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