Toprak Razgatlioglu is confident he’ll still be competing in the MotoGP World Championship in 2028

Formula 1 raced every year from 2005 to 2011 on the 5.33-kilometre circuit in Istanbul. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the circuit hosted races twice at short notice. In 2020, Lewis Hamilton secured his historic seventh world championship title in Turkey, and in 2021, Formula 1 returned for the thrilling finale of that legendary season. Now, the series is set to make a comeback from 2027, with a contract running up to and including 2031.

Ever since Toprak Razgatlioglu’s first title win in 2021, there have been efforts to bring the Superbike World Championship back to Istanbul, where it has only raced once – in 2013. With the Turkish rider’s move to MotoGP, the plans of promoter Liberty have also changed; the premier class of motorcycling has raced there three times to date: from the circuit’s opening in 2005 until 2007.

“We’ve been trying to push for 2027,” said Toprak at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. “But there’s no chance of getting Istanbul onto the calendar for next year. Now we’re talking about 2028 and working on it – there’s a chance of bringing MotoGP back. If we manage that, then I’ll have to deliver a strong result there; that’s the biggest problem and puts me under a lot of pressure. You need a good package there – there’s a long back straight. I know the circuit; it’s lovely and has fast corners. The last time I was there, I drove my car round it.”

It’s clear from Razgatlioglu’s comments that he firmly expects to still be in MotoGP in 2028. His current contract with Yamaha runs until the end of 2027. If the Japanese manufacturer fails to achieve a significant improvement under the new technical regulations from 2027 onwards, Toprak will continue to struggle to achieve strong results. That, in turn, will complicate his contract negotiations for 2028, by which time he will be 31 years old.

Back to the Istanbul Park Circuit. Formula 1 and MotoGP share the same owner in the US conglomerate Liberty, so ties have already been forged. Financially, however, staging such a major event in Turkey is a challenge.

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