Toprak Razgatlioglu faces MotoGP debut under unique religious circumstances

MotoGP rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu will make his debut this weekend in Thailand during the Muslim festival of Ramadan, and has explained how he observes it during a race weekend.

The three-time World Superbike champion joins the MotoGP grid in 2026 with Pramac Yamaha as one of the most highly-anticipated rookies in some time.

Signing a long-term deal with Yamaha, Toprak Razgatlioglu faces a tough adaptation to MotoGP machinery and Michelin tyres in 2026, though is hoped to provide a major development boost to the brand for 2027 with his knowledge of Pirelli rubber.

As the grid’s only Muslim rider, Razgatlioglu has had to prepare for his upcoming MotoGP debut during the festival of Ramadan.

One of the five pillars of Islam is that muslims fast during daylight hours to show their devotion to their religion.

However, for athletes, this can prove to be tricky given the demands placed on their bodies during competition.

Razgatlioglu says he has been fasting, but is now consuming more food and drinking again ahead of the Thai Grand Prix beginning on Friday.

After the race weekend, however, he will return to his native Turkey and go back to fasting.

“The first day I did Ramadan, but after we are riding the bike, I need some energy,” he told the official MotoGP website on Thursday.

“After the test, I did two days again [of observing] Ramadan.

“Now, I’m starting to eat and drink because tomorrow we are starting again.

“When I go back to Turkey after the race, I will go back to [observing] Ramadan again.”

Though athletes still practice fasting during Ramadan, exceptions are allowed.

In recent years, more sports around the world have become more inclusive to Muslim athletes during this period, with the Premier League introducing a procedure in matches to allow players to break their fast.

In motorsport, the World Endurance Championship and Formula 1 have altered race weekend schedules in the Middle East in recent years because of Ramadan.

“Dream come true” for Razgatlioglu as MotoGP debut arrives

Razgatlioglu admitted during the Buriram test last weekend that he was struggling to trust the front Michelin tyre and suggested he had to “crash more” to understand the limit better.

Despite having low expectations for results this weekend in Thailand, he has still branded his debut as a “dream come true”.

“I’m really excited,” he said.

“I see here many cameras, it’s very difficult because after Superbike it’s the biggest difference here.

“I’m really happy to be a new rider in MotoGP because a dream has come true.

“This is the first race weekend. I’m really excited and after the test I’m just focused on the race weekend. I hope we improve something tomorrow.”