Razgatlioglu out for the rest of the season: what shoulder surgery means for 2027

• Surgery on 26 October in Milan, season over due to the shoulder injury from Mandalika
• Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez takes over the bike from Phillip Island
• Valencia test on 1 December in doubt, otherwise the next chance would be Sepang in January

After the Indonesian Grand Prix, it initially looked as though Toprak Razgatlioglu could return in Australia after a little rest. That hope has been dashed. As his team Prima Pramac Yamaha has announced, the damage to his shoulder is greater than expected and requires surgery. For the three-time Superbike world champion, his first MotoGP season therefore ends early, and precisely at the point when preparations for the new 2027 regulations are getting under way.

Why is Toprak Razgatlioglu out for the rest of the 2026 MotoGP season?

Razgatlioglu needs surgery on his right shoulder, which he dislocated in his crash at Mandalika. The operation is scheduled for Monday, 26 October, in Milan, after which his rehabilitation will begin.

The injury dates back to the second free practice session in Indonesia. There, his Yamaha threw him off in a highside, a crash in which the rear wheel first slides away, then suddenly regains grip and catapults the rider over the bike. His shoulder popped out and was put back in shortly afterwards. Razgatlioglu nevertheless completed qualifying and the sprint. In Sunday’s race he had to stop after eight laps because he lacked strength in his shoulder.

On Monday, 19 October, the Turkish rider underwent another thorough examination in Milan. The result was clear: without surgery, the shoulder cannot be treated in a way that makes it fully resilient again. According to Yamaha, the decision to operate was made in consultation with Razgatlioglu.

How does Razgatlioglu explain the decision to have surgery?

Razgatlioglu says the injury is more serious than initially assumed and that he wants surgery to give himself the best chance of a full recovery. He says the step was not an easy one for him.

In the team’s statement he says: “After further medical assessments following the crash in Mandalika, it became clear that my shoulder injury is worse than we first believed. As a result, I will undergo surgery in the coming days to give myself the best chance of making a full recovery and returning at 100%.”

He also stresses that he consulted the doctors and the people closest to him beforehand. In the end, everyone agreed that surgery was the right path for his future. Rather than continuing to ride with a weakened shoulder and risking a worse injury, he is opting for a clean recovery.

Which MotoGP races will Razgatlioglu miss?

Razgatlioglu will miss all five remaining races: in Australia, Malaysia, Qatar, Portugal and Valencia. First up is the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island from 23 to 25 October.

That race in particular hurts him. This year is the last time Phillip Island hosts MotoGP; from 2027 the series will race in Australia on a street circuit in Adelaide. During his time in the Superbike World Championship, Razgatlioglu took one win and seven further podiums at the track. “I’m extremely disappointed to miss the Australian Grand Prix. Phillip Island is one of my favourite circuits and a place where I’ve enjoyed some very special moments during my Superbike career”, he says.

He had been looking forward to experiencing the circuit on a MotoGP bike. The fact that this will no longer happen makes the situation even harder for him. He wishes his teammate Jack Miller all the best for his home race. For the Australian, it is his last MotoGP appearance in front of his home crowd, as he moves to the Superbike World Championship in 2027. Razgatlioglu plans to cheer the team on from afar.

He is not the only absentee in Australia, by the way. At Gresini, Fermin Aldeguer is out, with Iker Lecuona stepping in for him.

Who replaces Razgatlioglu at Pramac Yamaha?

Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez takes over the number 7 at Pramac. He is set to ride from Phillip Island until Razgatlioglu is fit again.

The Spaniard is no stranger to the premier class. He was previously a full-time rider at Tech3 and at RNF, later Trackhouse, before joining Yamaha’s test team. He has already raced four times this season, most recently at the British Grand Prix, which he finished in 15th place. Australia will be his fifth outing of 2026.

Team director Gino Borsoi shows understanding for his rider: “We are very sorry for Toprak, as we know how much he wanted to race at Phillip Island and continue his journey with the YZR-M1.” Borsoi also says that Razgatlioglu has worked hard on adapting to MotoGP and that it is disappointing the injury is now interrupting this process. Health comes first, however, and the team will support him during his rehabilitation.

About Fernandez, the team boss says: “As Yamaha’s test rider, he knows the bike well, and we are pleased to have him joining the team for these events.”

What does the absence mean for Razgatlioglu’s preparation for 2027?

The absence could cost Razgatlioglu important first kilometres on the 2027 bike. Whether he can ride at the Valencia test on 1 December is still open. Otherwise, his next opportunity would only be the Sepang test in January.

In 2027, a lot changes in MotoGP at once. Engine capacity drops from 1,000 to 850 cc, and Pirelli replaces Michelin as tyre supplier. The tyre change in particular was seen as an advantage for Razgatlioglu, as he knows Pirelli from many years in the Superbike World Championship. That was also one of the reasons Yamaha signed him. Now he is likely to be missing at exactly the stage when development for 2027 enters the decisive phase.

Yamaha also has to rethink its plans. With Fernandez racing, the manufacturer loses one of its two test riders for work on the 850 cc bike. The other is Andrea Dovizioso, who no longer races.

Two examples from the paddock show that shoulder injuries are no laughing matter. Marc Marquez also injured his shoulder in Indonesia last year and is still struggling with the consequences despite two operations. The same goes for Maverick Viñales, who has not been able to return to his old form since his shoulder injury at the 2025 German Grand Prix.

How did Razgatlioglu’s first MotoGP season go before the injury?

Razgatlioglu ends his rookie year with 18 points in 21st place in the championship. His best result is an eleventh place at Balaton Park in Hungary.

The switch from the Superbike World Championship to MotoGP proved much harder for him than expected. On top of that, the V4-engined Yamaha lacks power compared with the competition. While the 2026 MotoGP season enters its final phase with the last five races and the title fight rages at the front, his focus now turns entirely to rehabilitation and his second year in the premier class.

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