Toprak Razgatlioglu is personally working to bring MotoGP back to Turkey. The Turkish rider confirmed to reporters before the Austrian Grand Prix that he has been involved in discussions. He believes Istanbul Park is ready to host an event, but says there is no calendar slot in 2027 and talks are currently aimed at a 2028 return. This remains a goal he is pursuing, rather than a confirmed Turkish Grand Prix arrangement.
F1 has a return agreement, while MotoGP talks continue
F1 announced a five-year agreement with Turkey on April 24, bringing Istanbul Park back to its calendar from 2027 through 2031. Razgatlioglu also cited that agreement as a reason to push for MotoGP’s return. However, Motorsport.com reported that he explicitly told the media there was no opportunity to put Turkey on next year’s calendar. The discussions concern 2028, with work still ongoing. He did not describe those efforts as a signed MotoGP agreement.
Turkey hosted three consecutive MotoGP rounds from 2005 to 2007. Marco Melandri won the first two, with Casey Stoner victorious in 2007. Motorsport.com suggested that Istanbul Park’s proximity to a major city, combined with Razgatlioglu’s domestic support, could attract large crowds if the race returned. That is an assessment of potential appeal, not an attendance figure already achieved.
The competitive pressure behind a home rider’s ambition
Razgatlioglu has won the World Superbike Championship three times: with Yamaha in 2021, then BMW in 2024 and 2025. In 2026 he returned to Yamaha to begin his first MotoGP season with Prima Pramac Yamaha. His efforts to bring back a home round during his debut MotoGP year give the ambition direct involvement from an active Turkish rider.
He also discussed the extra pressure a return would put on him. Half-jokingly, he said that if MotoGP returned to Turkey he would need a special result, making that the “biggest problem” because the pressure at home would be considerable. He did not set a specific finishing target, but linked his wish for a return with the higher expectations it would bring.
INKA SPORTS analysis: Why a ready circuit still needs a calendar slot
The key distinction is that circuit readiness and event scheduling answer different questions. The F1 agreement confirms a long-term arrangement with another championship, while the view that Istanbul Park is ready to host is Razgatlioglu’s assessment. His immediate qualification that there is no slot in 2027 shows that, even accepting his view of the venue, a MotoGP return the following year does not follow. By pairing the lack of a 2027 place with ongoing 2028 discussions, he identifies 2028 as the target for finding an opportunity, not an already confirmed race.
His three world titles and support in Turkey give the return discussions a public advocate who is an active MotoGP rider, and explain the media interest in his home appeal. A rider’s ability to attract attention does not mean he can promise a year on behalf of the organisers. When discussing a “special result”, he is considering the competitive pressure he would face if the ambition became reality. Securing a race slot remains a separate, unresolved matter. His comments advance the discussion of a return without completing the transition from a rider’s wish to an official calendar entry.
Conclusion
Istanbul Park has an agreement for F1 to return from 2027, and Razgatlioglu has clearly confirmed his involvement in pursuing a MotoGP return. The two developments have different levels of certainty. For MotoGP, 2028 remains a year being targeted. Only formal confirmation of a Turkish round and its year by the organisers would change its current status as a matter under discussion. Repeated expressions of interest or emphasis on home popularity alone do not confirm that the race is secured.
