Yamaha’s 2026 MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang did not go as planned, and the fallout is set to extend beyond the track. According to reports, Toprak Razgatlioglu is expected to speak directly with his manager about the difficulties he and the team faced in Malaysia following a disrupted test.
The three-time World Superbike champion, making his MotoGP debut with the Prima Pramac Yamaha squad, struggled for pace throughout the test. His performance was hampered by widespread technical problems with Yamaha’s new V4-powered M1, which forced the entire Yamaha contingent to halt running on Wednesday while engineers investigated safety and reliability concerns.
Source: Speedweek
Razgatlioglu also encountered the same engine issue that sidelined factory rider Fabio Quartararo, according to teammate Alex Rins. These setbacks contributed to a challenging test environment, with Yamaha’s riders limited in track time and facing a bike that still lacks competitiveness relative to rivals.
The Turkish rookie found adapting to the MotoGP machine difficult and was among the slower riders over the three days of collective testing. Other accounts from the Sepang weekend describe Razgatlioglu as demotivated and struggling to extract performance from the Yamaha M1 as he tries to adjust his riding style to the demands of premier-class machinery.
Yamaha’s broader testing woes have drawn criticism from within the paddock, as the manufacturer’s V4 project suffers a notable setback early in the pre-season. With more tests scheduled before the 2026 season opener, the team will be under pressure to solve its technical problems and help Razgatlioglu find confidence and speed on the bike.
