Massimo Meregalli confirms testing plans with Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and targets two possible dates for his MotoGP debut
The Superbike World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu was supposed to test on a MotoGP bike last year. But nothing came of it due to scheduling conflicts. However, this does not mean that the test is off the table.
Yamaha are already working on a schedule and have two possible dates in their sights, as team manager Massimo Meregalli revealed on the sidelines of the MotoGP test in Sepang.
“Last year, at the end of the season, basically at the end of the Jerez test, we planned a test for him,” the Italian recalls. But then the World Superbike Championship finale in Indonesia was pushed back and landed on the very weekend that Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP test was scheduled.
Meregalli: “That would certainly be interesting “
“He had to fly to the last Superbike race, of course. But this year, in coordination with Cal s testing calendar, we have to find a day that could fit into his calendar and ours,” Meregalli continued.
“It would be interesting for sure, and he really deserves this opportunity because what he did last year was incredible,” addressing Razgatlioglu’s victory over six-time World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea in the battle for the title.
The Yamaha MotoGP team manager knows: “I’m not the only one curious to see him on the M1. We have already discussed a schedule and there are two possibilities: one in August and the other maybe in June, but I am not sure. We have already exchanged that possibility. “
Change for Razgatlioglu then 2023?
“Once we are ready, we will decide together when the right time is,” Meregalli said. In 2022, Razgatlioglu will compete again in the World Superbike Championship with Yamaha to defend his title. The season starts on 9/10 April.
The Turk has been linked to a possible move to MotoGP not only since his title win. He himself stressed, however, that this would only be an option for him once he had won the World Superbike Championship title. As is well known, this prerequisite has been fulfilled since last year.
