Could Razgatlioglu save Honda's WorldSBK project?

12/04/2024 05:38 AM

Toprak Razgatlioglu could be the difference maker for Honda if he ever joined their World Superbike project.

In the past we have seen Toprak Razgatlioglu make the difference for two different manufacturers in World Superbikes.

The Turkish rider won Yamaha's first World Superbike title since 2009 in the 2021 season, his second year with the Japanese brand. Then most recently (2024) he won BMWs first World Superbike title in his first year with the German manufacturer.

Razgatlioglu has recently spoken about how he will be on the rider market at the end of the 2025 season. The 28-year-old has ambitions to move to MotoGP before anything else, but a lucrative offer from Honda could persuade the two-time World Superbike Champion to complete another seemingly impossible task.

"I'm free for 2026," Razgatlioglu told Sky Italia earlier this month. "I don't know if we'll talk to some teams to see if there's a chance of a contract so I can move to the [MotoGP] paddock.

"I still have that dream, but if it doesn't work out for 2026, I won't think about it anymore. After all, I'm getting older and for me this is the last chance."

Razgatlioglu has also recently said: "Maybe I can win many more titles in my career, hopefully with other brands in the future. Maybe I'll change brands, maybe I'll go to MotoGP, I don't know,"

The Japanese manufacturer last won the World Superbike Championship in 2007 with James Toseland. It gets even worse for Honda when you consider that they have not won a World Superbike race since 2016 when Nicky Hayden won in Sepang.

When asked by SPEEDWEEK.com if Honda needs a Razgatlioglu to make the breakthrough HRC team manager Jose Escamez said: "I think not."

"We have absolutely no complaints about the performance of our riders. Both Xavi and Iker have done a really excellent job for Honda.

"So I don't think the quality of the riders is our problem. Our philosophy is to give young riders with potential the opportunity to prove themselves."

 Escamez continued by saying: "If one day there are movements in the rider market, one of our riders wants to leave the team and another offers himself to us, then we will have to reassess the situation," said the Spaniard.

"But of course: Toprak is Toprak, unique. It would be interesting to see what he could get out of our bike."

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