Rea backs Toprak Razgatlioglu to do MotoGP

Razgatlioglu took Yamaha to its first WSBK title in over a decade last year, coming on top in a season-long battle with Rea that concluded with a thrilling showdown in Indonesia.

Although the Turkish rider has a contract with Yamaha’s WSBK squad until the end of the 2023 campaign, he has consistently been linked to a MotoGP move with the Japanese marque next year.

Indeed, he is due to test the Yamaha M1 at a specially-organised test in June, which Yamaha MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis has clarified is being held with a view to evaluate him for a 2023 race seat, albeit most likely with a satellite team.

Six-time WSBK champion Rea has closely followed Razgatlioglu’s rise to stardom and the two were even part of the same Kawasaki squad that won the Suzuka 8 Hours title in 2019, before the Turkish rider joined the Yamaha fold in WSBK the following year.

Although the two fought bitterly for the 2021 title, and at times sparred verbally off-track, Rea told Motorsport.com’s German edition he would like to see Razgatlioglu get a chance to showcase his speed in MotoGP next year.

“I hope he can go to MotoGP because he’s one of the guys that can make that step and be competitive,” said Rea, who made two MotoGP appearances for Honda in 2012 but never landed a full-time seat. “I think it can show there’s a stepping stone from Superbike to MotoGP.”

“Unfortunately I never had that chance. There’s nothing wrong with [staying in WSBK]. I had a great career here. 

“But personally speaking, I like Toprak, he’s one of my hardest rivals on-track but he’s a really good person. I said to him [last year], ‘if you get the chance, learn from my experience and go’.

“He would do a great job. A lot of riders in this paddock are talented and could do a great job. So I just told him, if you get the chance, go there, even if it’s a private team or whatever.