Razgatlioglu ends rookie MotoGP season early

(Luca Gambuti/MotoGP)

Toprak Razgatlioglu will miss the final five rounds of his debut MotoGP season after a shoulder injury left him requiring surgery.

The Prima Pramac Yamaha rider was injured in a highside crash during the Indonesian Grand Prix weekend at Mandalika.

Further examinations in Milan on Monday confirmed the need for an operation, which is scheduled for October 26.

 

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“After further medical assessments following the crash in Mandalika, it became clear that my shoulder injury is worse than we first believed,” Razgatlioglu said.

The Turkish rider attempted to race in Indonesia but retired after eight laps, struggling with a lack of strength in his right shoulder under braking.

The surgery brings an early end to a rookie campaign spent adapting to MotoGP after winning three WorldSBK titles.

He will miss races in Australia, Malaysia, Qatar, Portugal and Valencia, with his absence from Phillip Island a particular disappointment.

Razgatlioglu had hoped to ride a MotoGP bike at one of his favourite circuits from his Superbike career, but said he and his doctors agreed that surgery offered the best chance of a full recovery.

Pramac team director Gino Borsoi said the injury would interrupt his progress with Yamaha’s YZR-M1, while stressing that his health took priority.

Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez will replace him and race alongside Jack Miller at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

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