The WSBK paddock will lose one of the most entertaining and talented riders of his generation next season as BMW Motorrad Motorsport’ s game-changing rider, Toprak Razgatlioglu, heads to Yamaha and the MotoGP circus for 2026. In what some critics see as a risky move, others see as a stroke of timing genius by his manager, Kenan Sofuoglu, as Yamaha has not only found a bit( but not enough) more pace with their inline four engine but have pulled back the covers on their new direction. With testing underway with the new V-four motor and then a displacement reduction the following year, the playing field as we know it may well be quite different. Even next year, maybe Yamaha’ s woes in the class may be relegated to last year’ s news. And with the new 850cc and a new V-four, hey, there is a risk but with nothing to prove and a lifelong dream to fulfil, expect the flambouyant Turkish ace to add his flair to the class. As always, there is the great debate about who can adapt from the street-based machinery to the knife-edge technology and tolerances of the‘ GP’ bikes but with a skillset like Toprak’ s, you’ d have to be a serious gambler to put money on him not coming out blazing, even among the best of the best, on the best of the best. Always the entertainer, we cannot wait to watch that action. As for his out-going team, there is nothing but respect and best wishes coming from BMW. Sure, they would have loved Razgatlioglu to have stayed with them but totally understand the MotoGP dream has an expiry date and when the planets align and the offer arrives … Toprak broke the WSBK drought for BMW in his first season with them. Currently he is trying to defend that title and both he and his team at BMW are focused on achieving that goal. Will BMW be in MotoGP when the new displacement category comes into effect? Will they dive straight in or have a development phase? Will they try to lure Razgatlioglu back should that happen? For now, the bigger question is who will be Toprak’ s teammate? Rumours are rife, the daggers are out in the rumour mills but nothing is signed yet, other than Toprak Razgatlioglu’ s newly minted contract with Pramac Yamaha.