Türkiye's Toprak Razgatlıoğlu begins MotoGP journey in Thailand

The new season in MotoGP World Championship, the most prestigious competition in motorcycle racing, will begin tomorrow with practice sessions at the Thailand Grand Prix.

Three-time World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu of Türkiye, who won titles in 2021, 2024 and 2025, will say “hello” to his MotoGP career tomorrow during practice at the Thailand Grand Prix, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

The opening round of the MotoGP World Championship 2026 season, the Thailand Grand Prix, will be held from February 27 to March 1 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram.

Free practice sessions will take place on Friday, February 27. On Saturday, February 28, qualifying will start at 06:50 (TSI), followed by the 13-lap sprint race at 11:00 (TSI). The excitement will peak with the 26-lap main race on Sunday, March 1 at 11:00 (TSI).

MotoGP’s most successful riders

Organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) since 1949, Grand Prix races are held with prototype motorcycles built exclusively for competition and not permitted for road use.

Until 2002, the premier class was known as 500cc, alongside 350cc, 250cc and 125cc categories. In 2002, the top category was renamed MotoGP, with a maximum engine capacity of 1000cc.

The first 500cc world champion in 1949 was British rider Leslie Graham.

Italian legend Giacomo Agostini, who won his first premier-class (500cc) title in 1966, remains the most successful rider in Grand Prix history with 15 world championships (500cc and 350cc) and 122 race victories. He holds the record with eight premier-class titles.

Another Italian icon, Valentino Rossi, who began his career in 1996 and retired at the end of the 2021 season, claimed nine world titles across 125cc, 250cc and 500cc/MotoGP, with 115 wins. He holds the record for most premier-class race victories (89).

Spanish star Marc Márquez has been the most successful rider of the 1000cc MotoGP era. After titles in 125cc (2010) and Moto2 (2012), he won MotoGP crowns in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and later added another title in 2025 with Ducati, bringing his total premier-class tally to seven in the 1000cc era.

Other recent champions in the 1000cc era include Joan Mir (2020), Fabio Quartararo (2021), Francesco Bagnaia (2022, 2023) and Jorge Martín (2024).

2026 season calendar highlights

After Thailand (February 27–March 1), the 2026 MotoGP season will continue in:

• Brazil (March 20–22)
• USA (March 27–29)
• Qatar (April 10–12)
• Spain – Jerez (April 24–26)
• France (May 8–10)
• Catalonia (May 15–17)
• Italy (May 29–31)
• Hungary (June 5–7)
• Czech Republic (June 19–21)
• Netherlands (June 26–28)
• Germany (July 10–12)
• Great Britain (August 7–9)
• Aragon (August 28–30)
• San Marino (September 11–13)
• Austria (September 18–20)
• Japan (October 2–4)
• Indonesia (October 9–11)
• Australia (October 23–25)
• Malaysia (October 30–November 1)
• Portugal (November 13–15)
• Valencia (November 20–22)

The 2026 season marks a new chapter for Toprak Razgatlıoğlu as he steps onto the MotoGP grid for the first time.