With the end of the 2025 season, Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Toprak Razgatlioglu's (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) time racing in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock has come to a close. While van der Mark will remain with the team as a test rider, Razgatlioglu is making the jump to chase his dream of a MotoGP World Championship. Speaking on their past together with the team and their view of both the team’s future, and Toprak’s future in MotoGP, the pair let their takes fly.

PREPARATIONS FOR THEIR NEW RIDERS: “I’ve tried some parts, and the 2026 bike is for sure more friendly to ride”

The defending #1 and #60 rode together for BMW for the last two seasons, and now, they step away from racing with the team together as well. Replacing them are former MotoGP race winner and 2025 WorldSBK Ducati independent rider Danilo Petrucci, and fellow MotoGP race winner Miguel Oliveira, who will trade places with Toprak as he vacates the MotoGP paddock from Pramac Yamaha to join the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK squad. Both riders gave their two cents on how they thought they would fare, though they haven’t yet spoken to the new riders about the bike.

On their upcoming 2026 season, van der Mark said: “I haven’t spoken to them yet, but I think the most important thing for them is to go out and to explore the bike. I hope I did a good job on the bike for them. They need to get used to the bike, then we can talk later. They need to get the feeling first. Looking at their qualities, I don’t think they will need much time to become competitive, but the bike is definitely very different from what they are used to. I’ve tried some parts, and the 2026 bike is for sure more friendly to ride. The team’s goal was to make the bike more friendly to ride because they’re both new to the bike and I think many details are contributing to that progress”

Razgatlioglu added: “Danilo coming from Ducati and Miguel coming from GP, they will have very different feelings from the BMW. They will need to adapt, check the balance, and develop their personal setups. I hope they enjoy the challenge, and for both these guys to represent the team is a good opportunity for BMW.”

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS: “I wish the Valencia test were tomorrow”

Razgatlioglu was asked about his recent preparations for his MotoGP debut; while the celebrations of his third Riders’ Championship have been enjoyable and aplenty, as he returned to his home country of Turkey. ‘El Turco’ is clearly already raring to get out of the press conferences and onto the track, as the upcoming Valencia MotoGP test event will provide his first real chance to see where he stacks up against the competition.

Speaking on what he’s been up to and his hopes for this season, Razgatlioglu said: “When I got back to Turkey, I don’t even know how many interviews I did. I’m just tired of interviews and celebrations, but when I am sitting on the bike, there is no problem. I’m ready for the first test. I need to see the bike; maybe we need to check a few things, but I’m ready to ride it. I wish the Valencia test were tomorrow! It won’t be an easy season; everything will be new, the tracks, the paddock, especially the bike. I’m excited, I love new challenges, for me this is the biggest challenge, but I will always do my best. I need to ride the bike in the first official test so I can see how I compare to everyone else. “I’m not worried because the Yamaha guys believe in me. We have been talking a lot, and they are working hard to improve the bike. Ok, maybe the bike isn’t the best right now, but I believe they are improving. Years ago, Yamaha and Honda were very strong; now it is Ducati, but I believe they can improve. My biggest dream is to win the MotoGP world title, maybe this is too early, but everyone has a dream, and this is mine.”

WISHING THE #11 SUCCESS: “I’m happy for Bulega, he is getting better every year, and now he has a big opportunity in MotoGP”

Razagatlioglu, however, is not the only 2025 WorldSBK rider who will be getting a taste of the MotoGP paddock, as his title rival for the past two seasons, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), will be getting a shot to ride in the final two weeks of the 2025 MotoGP season. Bulega will be filling in atop the incumbent Champion Marc Marquez’s factory Ducati bike, as the #93 suffered a crash in Indonesia with Marco Bezzecchi that left him with a right shoulder injury, ruling him out of the rest of the season after he clinched the title the round before, in Japan.

Speaking on his former rival and his hopes for the #11, Razgatlioglu said: “I’m happy for Bulega, he is getting better every year, and now he has a big opportunity in MotoGP. We will watch him in the last two races. The Ducati is very strong, and he didn’t look bad in the tests. I hope he enjoys riding the bike this weekend at Portimao and Valencia. “I hope Bulega can fight for the top 10 at Portimao, he’s very strong there. The Ducati is a very strong bike for that track. I hope he does a very good job because this is very important for WorldSBK.”

Watch back through Toprak’s 2025 masterful title defence and more with the WorldSBK VideoPass!