Alvaro Bautista believes Toprak Razgatlioglu will come to realise that there are technological limits in MotoGP. Bautista, who has plenty of experience in both championships, spoke from first-hand knowledge.
Between 2010 and 2018, he started more than 150 races in MotoGP, finishing on the podium three times. In 2019, he moved to World Superbikes and eventually became a two-time world champion.
Razgatlioglu is aiming to become the first rider ever to win titles in both series, though that’s a long-term goal given Yamaha’s current situation.
Alvaro Bautista thinks MotoGP’s technology is holding Toprak Razgatlioglu back
Speaking on the Fast & Curious podcast, Bautista was asked about the challenges riders face when switching between championships. He believes MotoGP bikes are fundamentally different in their character.
Where once riders could bridge a three-tenth gap through pure ability, today’s results depend much more on machine performance. Bautista attributes this to the sport’s increasing reliance on advanced technology.
The sport has also announced that ride-height devices will be banned before 2027 and aerodynamic packages are being reduced, which may put more of a spotlight back on rider skill.
“Going from this championship to MotoGP is also very complicated because the bikes are much more rigid,” Bautista explained.
“The tyres are completely different, they have a different character, so it’s complicated. Now with all the aerodynamics, with all the technology, it’s even more difficult because there are so many things you have to understand.
“And as I said before, technology is good, but not good enough to put so much in the rider’s hands.”
Bautista noted that where two or three tenths used to be manageable for top riders to overcome through skill alone now feels impossible if it comes down to what the bike can physically do. He added that World Superbikes gives riders a bit more flexibility compared to MotoGP’s strict regulations.
He cautioned that anyone moving over needs to respect those boundaries and adapt their approach accordingly.
Alvaro Bautista raves about Toprak Razgatlioglu’s ‘incredible’ bike control
Bautista had nothing but praise for Razgatlioglu’s feel for the limit. Between 2021 and 2025, the pair split every WSBK title, including two direct battles in ’22 and ’23.
Neil Hodgson believes that Toprak would be ‘right up there’ on a Ducati, though Bautista thinks there would still be an adjustment period no matter the bike.
“For me, Toprak is a rider who really plays with the control of the bike,” he said. “He’s done stunts, his father’s stunts, so he really has incredible control of the bike.
“He can push it to the limit every millimetre. I think in MotoGP it’s a question of how long it takes to understand how to ride a MotoGP bike, the tyres and everything.
“Being on a Yamaha, well, we see that all the Yamahas struggle a bit. But of course, I don’t know if you give him another bike, he would be able to push it to the limit.”
Razgatlioglu scored his first point as a MotoGP rider at the Americas GP last time out. Encouragingly, he beat every other Yamaha rider en route to that result.
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