Australian Grand Prix hit by shock withdrawal of multiple world champion
Pramac will be without Razgatlioglu until 2027 (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Pramac Yamaha have announced the shock news that Toprak Razgatlioglu will miss the remainder of the 2026 MotoGP season.
The Turkish talent suffered a nasty highside crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix last time out and requires shoulder surgery that will see him miss the final five races of the campaign.
Pramac also confirmed Razgatlioglu’s replacement in the form of test rider and 2022 Moto2 champion Augusto Fernandez.
The incident occurred during FP2 in Mandalika when Razgatlioglu was thrown in the air and landed on his shoulder, before appearing to pop back in the dislocation.
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World champion ruled out of Australian Grand Prix
Two-time WorldSBK champion Razgatlioglu said in a statement: "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. I was excited about the opportunity to race here on the MotoGP bike, which makes this situation even harder to accept.
“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 per cent.
“This wasn‘t an easy decision, but after consulting with the doctors and the people closest to me, we are convinced it is the right step for my future.”
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Razgatlioglu had made a decent start to life in MotoGP (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
The 30-year-old then paid tribute to his teammate Jack Miller, who will be racing in his final Australian Grand Prix before leaving MotoGP.
He added: “I would also like to wish Jack all the best for his home Grand Prix.
“Racing in front of your home crowd is always special, and with this being the final MotoGP event at Phillip Island, I hope he can enjoy a fantastic weekend and achieve a great result. I‘ll be cheering for him and the entire team from afar.”
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Pramac Yamaha confirm replacement for remaining MotoGP races
Pramac team director Gino Borsoi commented: "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.
“He has been working hard to adapt to MotoGP, and it is disappointing that this injury will prevent him from continuing that process over the coming races.
“However, his health must come first, and we will support him throughout his recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the bike when he is ready.”
He added: “At the same time, we welcome Augusto Fernandez, who will step in for Toprak at Phillip Island and until Toprak is ready to come back. As Yamaha‘s test rider, he knows the bike well, and we are pleased to have him joining the team for these events.
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“We will work together to make the most of this opportunity while wishing Toprak a successful operation and a smooth recovery.”
Razgatlioglu's move to MotoGP
Razgatlioglu switched to MotoGP for the 2026 season after huge success in Superbikes where he'd raced at Phillip Island.
He won the last two world championships with BMW, and a third with Yamaha in 2021.
The No.7 has earned plaudits for his transition to Grand Prix racing, recording 21 points, ten fewer than seasoned teammate Miller.
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Razgatlioglu is contracted with Yamaha for another year, and should have a big advantage for 2027 when the series switches to Pirelli tyres, which he raced on in WorldSBK.
He will be partnered by Moto2 title contender Izan Guevara, with Miller heading to Superbikes.
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