Buriram, Thailand – Marco Bezzecchi of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Racing Team won the opening MotoGP race of the 2026 season at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand on Sunday, whereas Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlıoğlu completed his debut MotoGP race in 17th position.
Razgatlıoğlu, representing Pramac Racing, started the 21-lap race in 20th place and steadily climbed to 17th, finishing ahead of Jack Miller, according to reports from Fanatik. The race marked a historic moment as Razgatlıoğlu became the first Turkish pilot to compete in a MotoGP race.
The race was marked by several incidents, including the unexpected retirement of both Marc Márquez and his brother, Álex Márquez. Marc Márquez was forced to withdraw due to a rear tire failure, while Álex Márquez crashed out of the race shortly after. These retirements elevated Razgatlıoğlu’s position during the race.
Razgatlıoğlu’s performance came after a challenging sprint race on Saturday, where he experienced a technical issue with his Yamaha’s motor brake, leading to a crash. He ultimately finished 20th in the sprint race, as reported by Motorsport.com. Following the sprint race, Razgatlıoğlu explained that he had been battling the motor brake issue from the first lap.
“The start wasn’t bad, especially the launch was decent,” Razgatlıoğlu said, according to Motorsport.com. “Coming into the first corner, I saw Jack brake a little early. I immediately hit the brake, not sure if the carbon brakes were warm enough. I was really scared in that corner, but then I saw everyone pushing, and I tried to adapt.”
The Thai Grand Prix saw a dramatic series of events, with multiple riders experiencing difficulties. The race concluded with Bezzecchi taking the victory, followed by other competitors, while Razgatlıoğlu secured 17th place in his first MotoGP main race.
