If Toprak Razgatlioglu didn't exist, we would have to invent him. The Turkish rider puts on a show on the track, during races, but also when he has to stop, whether it's returning to the pits or heading towards the closed park after one of his incredible feats.
He made a name for himself by participating in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup during the period 2013-2014. In 2015, he dominated the European Superstock 600 Championship, with 5 wins and 2 third places in the 7 races held. At that point, he moved on to 1000cc bikes, starting with the Superstock, where he raced until the end of 2017, the year he was European vice-champion behind Michael Rinaldi.
In 2018, he made his debut in the Superbike World Championship with the Puccetti team and, in less than two years, achieved his first two victories (Race 1 and Superpole Race in France) riding the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. His performances caught the attention of the official Yamaha team, which signed him in 2020.
His first season with Yamaha was spent getting acquainted with the R1, although he managed to win 3 races and finish the year in fourth place. After understanding the bike's limitations, in 2021 the Turkish rider soared: 13 victories, 9 second places, and 7 third places in 37 races, through which he ended Jonathan Rea's reign, winner of six consecutive world titles.
These results sparked the interest of some MotoGP teams, especially after Maverick Viñales' departure from Yamaha, which caused a domino effect. Some speculated a move of Razgatlioglu to MotoGP, but these rumors were quelled when the official Yamaha Superbike team offered him a two-year contract extension.
To fulfill his dream, however, in June 2022, Yamaha let him test a MotoGP for the first time. In the Aragon test, he completed 40 laps, after which he stated: "Great sensations with the bike, especially on the straight where it goes really fast and it was interesting to experience the carbon brakes."
In the 2022-2023 biennium, despite not winning the title, Toprak achieved 21 victories and 62 podiums in 72 races, finishing both seasons as runner-up. These incredible results convinced the BMW executives to offer him a lucrative contract with the aim of bringing the German manufacturer back to the top, a position it had been missing for some time.
Many speculated that Toprak's choice was solely monetary, but the rider managed to transform the M1000RR into a winning motorcycle. Thanks to his undeniable talent, by the fourth race he brought BMW back to the top step of the podium after a 902-day drought.
A victory not by chance because from Assen to Portimao he strung together 13 consecutive victories that earned him a substantial lead. Not even the rounds missed in France and Cremona prevented him from securing the 2024 world title, with a haul of 18 wins and 27 podiums in 30 races held during the season.
The decision to ban BMW from using the chassis employed in 2024 seemed like it could weaken the German team. Instead, in 2025, by the second round of the season, Toprak achieved a clean sweep. In the middle part of the championship, he strung together another 4 triples, putting a mortgage on the third world title, although to win it he had to wait for the last race of the year.
The acrobatics
Which was also the last time he rode a Superbike because since June he knew he would be moving to the premier class with Yamaha, which in 2026 will have him race with the Pramac team. The first taste of MotoGP came in November, during the Valencia tests, and in one of his returns to the pits, Toprak performed his characteristic stoppie.
Since his debut in Superbike, Toprak has celebrated his achievements with a stoppie, a sort of reverse wheelie. Unlike a traditional wheelie, where the rear wheel is lifted, in a stoppie it's the front wheel that lifts off the ground, something relatively easier when riding a racing bike with lightweight components.
His control of the bike is undoubtedly exceptional, as demonstrated by the numerous times he manages to stop by rotating the bike 90 degrees on the front wheel. Generally, his process involves entering the pit lane at 80 km/h in second gear, then applying a pressure of 12-14 bar on the front brake.
When the rear wheel lifts, Razgatlioglu reduces the pressure to 2-3 bar, maintaining balance. Then he shifts to first gear and finally uses the rear brake to regain contact with the ground. A stuntman-like maneuver, a profession practiced by his father, Arif Razgatlioglu, nicknamed "Tek Terek Arif" (Arif on one wheel) for his skill in riding with the front wheel lifted off the ground.
The lightness of Brembo brake components and Marchesini wheels makes this result possible. The pair of 17-inch forged magnesium wheels weighs only 6 kg, while the set of 4-piston monoblock calipers is contained in just 1.5 kg, being made from a single block of aluminum.
The technique of stoppies
As is evident, executing a brake requires a decisive action on the front brake, ignoring the rear brake. The rider's body position is also crucial, with relaxed elbows and knees almost hugging the tank.
As seconds pass, the pressure on the front brake is gradually reduced to avoid tipping forward. During this phase, the rear wheel is lifted off the ground and only when it begins to descend does the rear brake come into play.
Activating the rear brake too early during a stop would lock the rear wheel, altering the balance between the rider and the bike. Leaning the torso too far forward is also a mistake, as it risks shifting the overall center of gravity.
In Superbike, riders apply a force of about 7 kg on the brake lever, depending on the diameter of the pump used, compared to the 6 and a half kg of pressure needed for the hardest braking during MotoGP races. Also, because steel discs are used in Superbike, while in MotoGP the discs are carbon.
This difference also translates into a different use of the brakes, as highlighted by Nicolò Bulega, second in the World Superbike Championship 2024 and 2025 and replacement for Marc Marquez in the last two rounds of MotoGP 2025: "In Superbike, if you are not aggressive in the first part of braking, the bike does not stop, whereas in MotoGP it is the opposite, you cannot be immediately aggressive on the brakes."
Returning to stoppies, they do not require intense energy, as braking occurs at relatively low speeds. What is more important is good braking torque, which is directly proportional to the effective radius of the disc, the coefficient of friction, and the clamping force (the force exerted by the caliper).
Naturally, an efficient brake pump is essential for responsive and modulable braking. Thanks to Brembo's experience in designing hydraulic, kinematic, and ergonomic components, its brake pumps are known for the linearity between the applied force and the braking response.
In any case, performing a stoppie is not particularly harmful to the braking system of a track bike, as it is usually done in the pit lane. The relatively low speed during the return to the pits ensures that the brake pads and fluid do not overheat excessively, thus avoiding thermal stress on the system.
However, these stunts are not always well received by some team managers. Not so much for the risk of damaging mechanical components - although there is concern that the oil may shift within the engine - but for the possibility that a rider may fall, suffer a silly injury, break some parts of the bike, or even make a fool of themselves on live television.
Not surprisingly, among all possible stunts with motorcycles, the stoppie is considered one of the most dangerous, as the rider cannot visually follow its progress. For this reason, Brembo strongly advises against attempting to emulate or replicate this stunt, either on the road or on the track.