In a groundbreaking announcement, Pramac Yamaha has unveiled the striking livery that Toprak Razgatlioglu will don as he embarks on his inaugural MotoGP season in 2026. This moment marks a significant milestone not just for the team, but also for Razgatlioglu, a celebrated triple World Superbike champion who has long been speculated to transition into the elite ranks of grand prix racing.
Last year, the Italian team created a buzz within the motorsport community by confirming the signing of the Turkish sensation, Razgatlioglu, which many viewed as a bold and exciting move. After years of contemplating a leap to MotoGP, Razgatlioglu believed that 2026 was the perfect opportunity to make the shift, especially given the robust factory support offered by Pramac, coupled with his advancing age in the sport.
After clinching his third World Superbike title, Razgatlioglu participated in several private testing sessions aboard the Yamaha bike. He made his official debut during the post-season test at Valencia in November, where he rode an unbranded Yamaha due to commitments with his previous team, BMW.
On January 13, Razgatlioglu showcased the colors he will race under at a launch event in Siena, proudly revealing Pramac’s 2026 livery. Accompanying him was his teammate Jack Miller, as both riders gear up for their upcoming shakedown at Sepang at the end of the month, followed by the first pre-season test.
The 2026 season is a pivotal one for Yamaha as it transitions from its traditional inline-four engine to a V4 configuration. In 2024, the Japanese manufacturer announced plans to develop this new V4 engine, which first hit the track with test rider Augusto Fernandez during the San Marino Grand Prix last September. Although the V4 has completed three wildcard entries at Misano, Sepang, and Valencia, Yamaha has yet to unleash its full potential.
This new motorcycle is seen as crucial for Yamaha in its effort to persuade 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo to extend his contract beyond 2026. However, with Yamaha indicating that much of the upcoming season will focus on development rather than immediate results, retaining Quartararo could prove to be a daunting challenge.
The launch of Pramac’s team marks the kickoff of the pre-season livery reveal phase, with VR46 set to present theirs on Wednesday, followed by Aprilia on Thursday. Ducati’s launch is scheduled for January 19, while Yamaha and Trackhouse will unveil their designs on January 21. KTM and Tech3 are set for a joint event on January 27, and Gresini will follow on January 31 in Malaysia. Honda and LCR will wrap up the launches on February 1 and 2.
The Sepang shakedown is slated for January 29-31 and is designed for test riders, rookies, and manufacturers with concession rank D status like Yamaha. The first official MotoGP test at Sepang will take place from February 3-5, followed by a second test at Buriram on February 21-22.
Lewis joined the Crash.net team in August 2024 after spending five years as a journalist specializing in MotoGP coverage for the Motorsport Network.
