🎙️ The Toprak Transformation: Pavesio Spills the Tea! ☕️
Get ready, motorsport fanatics, because we’re diving into the juicy details of Toprak Razgatlioglu’s evolution! Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director, Paolo Pavesio, has given us the inside scoop on how ‘El Turco’ has changed since he zoomed away from the blue team (Yamaha) and made history with BMW.
Forget subtle shifts—this is a seismic career change, and the stats back it up!
💥 The ‘Toprak Effect’ on the BMW Side
The biggest change Pavesio acknowledges is the sheer, undeniable success and confidence Toprak found on the BMW M 1000 RR. Before, Toprak was an incredible rider who snagged the 2021 title on the Yamaha YZF-R1, but his move to a brand that hadn’t won a title was a masterstroke of sheer willpower and talent.
| Era | Team | WorldSBK Seasons | Total Wins | Total Podiums | Championship Titles |
| Yamaha | Pata Yamaha | 4 (2020-2023) | 37 | 100 | 1 (2021) |
| BMW | ROKiT BMW | 2 (2024-2025*) | 39 | 58 | 2 (2024, 2025) |
“He’s still today the most victorious Yamaha Superbike rider ever. But he’s also the most victorious BMW rider ever! The fact that he was able to take a new manufacturer to a title… that is a massive step in maturity and reputation.” – Paolo Pavesio (paraphrased from various statements).
(*Stats include the 2025 season up to his move announcement, where he clinched another title with BMW)
🧠 The Mental Shift: From Talent to Strategic Kingpin
Pavesio, who was instrumental in bringing Toprak back to the Yamaha family for his 2026 MotoGP debut, highlights two key areas of change:
- The Unshakable Mental Strength: At Yamaha, Toprak was already a champion, but at BMW, he became a program-builder. He took a bike that had never won a title and forced it to victory, proving he wasn’t just fast—he was a force multiplier. This success has cemented his confidence and strategic value, making him one of the most bankable talents in the paddock.
- The MotoGP Gateway: Crucially, Pavesio noted a difference in Toprak’s motivation and timing regarding the premier class. His previous MotoGP tests with Yamaha were reportedly underwhelming, and some tension was felt. This time, Pavesio himself stepped in, signaling Yamaha’s serious commitment.
“That [first MotoGP] test… we were not ready, and I don’t think he was as motivated as he is today to make the step.” – Paolo Pavesio
It’s a story of a rider who left to prove his complete, unassisted power, and in doing so, became so dominant that his old home had to practically roll out the red carpet to get him back for his next massive challenge!
🚀 What’s Next? The MotoGP Gamble!
Now, the “changed” Toprak, fresh off his second WSBK title, is heading to Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP in 2026. The next phase, according to Pavesio, is a “progressive growth over time,” cautioning that “it is unrealistic to think about winning” right out of the gate.
But let’s be real, after single-handedly changing the BMW program and breaking records (like the 13 consecutive wins in his 2024 title run), Toprak Razgatlioglu’s new, turbo-charged version is the one we’re all itching to see on the big stage!
🤯 The Unstoppable ‘Toprak Effect’: BMW’s Record-Shattering Ride! 🏆
The records, and El Turco delivered them on a silver platter of spectacular stoppies! Paolo Pavesio’s assessment of Toprak’s heightened maturity is completely vindicated by the sheer, brutal dominance he brought to the BMW M 1000 RR.
History-making records Toprak Razgatlioglu smashed during his time with BMW (2024-2025):
🥇 BMW Manufacturer Records
Toprak didn’t just win a race for BMW; he completely redefined the brand’s WorldSBK legacy.
| BMW Record Broken | Achievement | Details |
| First World Championship Title | He delivered BMW’s MAIDEN WorldSBK Riders’ Championship title in 2024. | BMW had been chasing this title since their factory return. Toprak clinched it in his first season with them! |
| Most Wins for BMW | He became the all-time most victorious BMW rider in WorldSBK history. | Toprak surpassed the brand’s previous win total in just two seasons. He is now the most successful rider for both Yamaha and BMW! |
| Back-to-Back Titles | Secured BMW’s first-ever consecutive WorldSBK titles (2024 & 2025). | Proving 2024 was no fluke, he defended the crown, cementing BMW’s place at the top before his MotoGP departure. |
📈 WorldSBK All-Time Records
This is where Toprak transcended manufacturer loyalty and entered the global record books.
| WorldSBK Record Broken | Achievement | Details |
| Most Consecutive Race Wins | He set a new, unbelievable all-time record of 13 consecutive victories in 2024 (a record he equaled in 2025). | He shattered the previous record of 11 consecutive wins, jointly held by Jonathan Rea and Álvaro Bautista, demonstrating an unprecedented run of perfection. |
| Consecutive Hat-Tricks | In the middle of his 13-race streak, he achieved four consecutive triple-win weekends (a “Hat-Trick” being a Race 1, Superpole Race, and Race 2 sweep). | This run came at Misano, Donington Park, Balaton Park, and Magny-Cours, turning the championship battle on its head. |
| Exclusive Company | He became one of only four riders in WorldSBK history to win three or more WorldSBK Championships (2021, 2024, 2025). | He joins legends like Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss, and Jonathan Rea in an elite club. |
Toprak’s time at BMW wasn’t just a successful partnership; it was a nuclear explosion of talent meeting potential, resulting in the brand’s most successful era ever. It’s no wonder Yamaha’s Pavesio worked so hard to get this newly confident, history-making version of ‘El Turco’ for their MotoGP program!
Source
Paolo Pavesio’s Comments on Toprak’s MotoGP Move and Maturity (Yamaha/Pramac):
- https://www.motorcycledaily.com/2025/06/two-time-wsb-champion-toprak-razgatlioglu-moves-to-prima-pramac-yamaha-motogp-for-2026/
- https://bikesportnews.com/motogp/we-know-what-he-is-capable-of-yamaha-boss-discusses-toprak-razgatlioglu-signing
- https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/MotoGP-Paolo-Pavesio-on-Toprak-Razgatlioglu-We-are-all-aware-of-the-risks-but-we-believe-in-it/
- https://www.the-race.com/motogp/razgatlioglu-finally-makes-motogp-switch-with-yamaha/
Toprak’s WorldSBK Record (13 Consecutive Wins & BMW Title):
- https://rokit-bmwmotorradworldsbk.com/blogs/news/round-7-portimao-toprak-breaks-the-record-for-most-consecutive-wins-in-worldsbk
- https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0453411EN/he-did-it-again:-toprak-razgatlioglu-is-the-2025-worldsbk-world-champion?language=en
- https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2025/RAZGATLIOGLUS%20FAREWELL%20TITLE%20I%20always%20had%20one%20dream%20to%20be%20Superbike%20World%20Champion%20now%20I%20have%20done%20it%20three%20times
Overall Career & Stats Context (Wikipedia/WorldSBK):
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toprak_Razgatl%C4%B1o%C4%9Flu
- https://www.worldsbk.com/en/rider/Toprak+Razgatlioglu/4544
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