Pramac star Toprak Razgatlioglu expects a “difficult” start to his first Dutch Grand Prix after MotoGP staged the first 2027 Pirelli tire test between two-headers.
MotoGP held its first official 850cc test using Pirelli tires in Brno following last Sunday’s Czech Grand Prix. Race riders loved it for the first time. Razgatlioglu They got their hands on their respective team bikes and Pirelli tires for next year’s regulations.
Next season will see major changes to the rules, with MotoGP banning all ride height devices, introducing higher aero restrictions, reducing engine capacity from 1,000cc to 850cc and switching to Michelin tyres. Pirelli Tire as part of the new exclusive deal.
Razgatlioglu is the only rider on the 2026 MotoGP grid with previous experience with Pirelli from his years in the World Superbike Championship. But his move to MotoGP with Pramac in 2026 under factory Yamaha contract has forced him to learn Michelin tires this year.
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Toprak Razgatlioglu expects ‘difficult’ start at Assen after testing Pirelli 2027 tires in Brno
Razgatlioglu has repeatedly struggled with the Michelin front tire. Since his move to MotoGP, the rubber often doesn’t allow the 29-year-old to attack the brake zones as he wants. A move up to MotoGP this season was seen as a major hurdle.
Read more: 2027 MotoGP regulations explained, from 850cc engines to aero restrictions
So, now from using Michelin tires at the Czech GP to testing Bruno Pirelli tires and Michelin tires at Assen this weekend for the Dutch GP, Razgatlioglu expects a “difficult” time as MotoGP prepares the first official 850cc bike test.
Razgatlioglu spoke in Brno before the 850cc test, via quotes MotosanThe big problem is that tomorrow I will ride all day on Pirellis and then we will go to Assen and return to Michelin. It will be difficult.
While Monday’s Brno test is a back-door affair, with Michelin still MotoGP’s sole tire supplier until 2026, Aprilia rider Marco Bezecchi is believed to have set the fastest lap in the 850cc test. The Italian’s best lap time is said to be 1:53.9.
Toprak Razgatlioglu feels Alex Rins has hurt his chances at the Czech Grand Prix.
Razgatlioglu now goes to this weekend Dutch Grand Prix At Assen he had to re-adapt to Michelin tires at a circuit that has a lot of knowledge of how Pirelli rubber works. It’s a track that has given the three-time WSBK champion some success in Superbikes.
BMW Razgatlioglu won last year’s World Superbike Superpole race and won Race 2 in 2024. The Alanya native took a total of 10 WSBK podiums from 19 races in Assen. But Razgatlioglu won’t be heading to Assen on top speed in MotoGP.
Pramak Razgatlioglu finished fourth points payer at MotoGP rider in Brno last Sunday with P14 Czech Grand PrixHe believes that more would have been possible if Yamaha had made a rider. Alex Rin He did not stop the charge when the race started.
Razgatlioglu added: “He got off to a good start then I tried to catch him, he passed me in the last corner before the chicane and I thought why because it was the start of the race and I was trying to catch the others.”
“He was just strong in some corners, so I had better pace than him. I lost two or three seconds trying to pass him. If I hadn’t lost that time, I probably could have fought with (VR46’s Franco) Morbidelli and finished 12th and 13th.”
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