Alex Lowes Defends Toprak Razgatlioglu Amid Yamaha MotoGP Struggles

Alex Lowes believes Yamaha’s uncompetitive MotoGP bike, not rider ability, is the main reason behind Toprak Razgatlioglu’s difficult debut season.

Alex Lowes and Toprak Razgatlioglu

Alex Lowes has defended the performances of Toprak Razgatlioglu amid the Turkish rider’s difficult start in MotoGP with Yamaha. According to Lowes, Toprak’s struggles are not caused by a lack of talent, but rather by Yamaha’s current lack of competitiveness in the premier class.

Razgatlioglu was previously regarded as one of the most spectacular riders in the World Superbike Championship. His aggressive riding style, extreme braking technique, and exceptional bike control made the Turkish star a constant threat in every race. However, since making his MotoGP debut with Yamaha’s new project, Toprak has struggled to fight at the front and has often been battling merely to score points.

Lowes believes the situation is heavily influenced by the technological development of modern MotoGP machinery. He explained that motorcycles now play a much bigger role than they did in the past, meaning rider skill alone is no longer enough to guarantee victories.

The British rider even used Marc Marquez as an example. According to Lowes, even Marquez would not necessarily be capable of winning races if he were riding Yamaha’s current MotoGP bike. The statement underlined his belief that Yamaha’s main problem lies with the technical package rather than the quality of its riders.

Lowes also compared the situation to Nicolo Bulega’s dominance in World Superbike. He emphasized that the motorcycle itself has become a decisive factor in achieving results. In his view, even the world’s best riders will struggle to dominate without a competitive machine underneath them.

Toprak’s challenge has become even more complicated because he joined Yamaha during one of the Japanese manufacturer’s toughest periods. In addition to adapting to a MotoGP prototype machine, Razgatlioglu must also learn how to manage Michelin tyres and adjust to technical regulations that are significantly different from World Superbike.

Yamaha is currently developing a new V4 engine project that still lacks experience and competitive data. This situation has made Razgatlioglu’s adaptation process far more difficult compared to riders joining already well-developed MotoGP projects.

Lowes also highlighted the mental aspect affecting Toprak’s performances. According to him, Razgatlioglu is the type of rider who gains motivation from fighting at the front. When the results are limited to midfield finishes or occasional points-scoring positions, a rider’s confidence and motivation can naturally decline.

As a comparison, Lowes recalled Marc Marquez’s difficult period with Honda several seasons ago. He noted that Marquez also appeared very different compared to the dominant world champion version of himself seen in previous years. In his opinion, the situation is similar to what Razgatlioglu is currently experiencing with Yamaha.

Despite the difficult season, Lowes remains convinced that Toprak Razgatlioglu is still one of the best riders in the world. He believes the Turkish rider’s true talent can still be seen during certain practice sessions and races. However, without a competitive motorcycle, Toprak’s full potential will remain difficult to unlock in MotoGP.

Looking ahead, Lowes hopes Yamaha can significantly improve its bike performance, while future regulation changes may also help Razgatlioglu return to fighting near the front of MotoGP. He believes that if Yamaha manages to build a stronger package, Toprak will still have a major opportunity to prove his real quality in the premier class.

Share :