Why isn’t Toprak Razgatlioglu testing for BMW at today’s WorldSBK test?

While Jonathan Rea is testing his 2024 Yamaha and Andrea Iannone is riding next year’s Ducati, Razgatlioglu must wait longer before jumping on his new bike.

Razgatlioglu is leaving Yamaha for BMW next season but his contract with the Japanese manufacturer runs until November 30, 2023.

He had expressed disappointment and implied that Yamaha did not permit him to take part in today’s Jerez test for BMW.

But Yamaha’s road racing manager made him an offer - which he rejected - which would have allowed him to test for BMW at the next Jerez test on November 22-23, according to Speedweek.

Part of the deal would have been for Razgatlioglu to not publicly compare the Yamaha to the BMW.

Because they could not find a deal, Razgatlioglu must wait until December 4 to test a BMW.

Last week, Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager Andrea Dosoli said: “As you know, it was our intention to go ahead with Toprak in the next years but he’s chosen something different and we fully respect that; Toprak is most probably the rider with the most brilliant future, considering his age and performance. 

“There is a clear agreement in place until the end of November that I believe was clear to both of us to respect it.”

BMW team manager Shaun Muir added: “We asked for Toprak to test, but we must respect the contract that was signed back in the day and equally we’d probably ask to do the same. 

“It’s just a shame that we couldn’t get him released to join that test like most of them are going to be.

“That’s an opportunity missed; it’s a long four or five weeks where we don’t get any track action for Toprak, but it doesn’t mean nothing is happening behind the scenes for us to get the bike ready for him. 

“We look forward to that first test in December. We’ve got December 4th at Portimao followed by another two days at Jerez.”