“Toprak doesn’t just want to win races, he wants to become the icon that millions of kids stick on their bedroom walls” – Kenan Sofuoğlu and the dream of turning the “King of Superbike” into an immortal MotoGP legend, on the same level as Marc Márquez.

Kenan Sofuoğlu dropped that line in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com Turkey on November 24, 2025, and the MotoGP paddock immediately felt the earthquake. The five-time World Supersport champion turned manager is no longer whispering; he is openly declaring war on the establishment.

His protégé, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, is not coming to MotoGP just to learn; he is coming to dominate and to replace Marc Márquez as the face of the sport.

The 27-year-old from Alanya stunned the world in his rookie season with BMW Motorrad in 2025. After three rounds on the satellite Yamaha R1 with Pata Yamaha Prometeon, Toprak already has two podiums (Portimão P2 and Phillip Island P3) and a sensational pole position in Australia.

His riding style (late braking, knee-down for entire corners, and a fearless aggression) has drawn constant comparisons to the young Marc Márquez of 2013.

Sofuoğlu, who discovered Toprak when he was 14, sees more than just speed. He sees charisma, marketability, and a story that transcends Turkey.

“Marc has eight world titles, yes, but Toprak has something Marc never had: he came from WorldSBK, beating Jonathan Rea three years in a row, and now he’s beating factory Ducati riders with a customer bike,” Sofuoğlu said.

The manager believes the Turkish market alone can rival Spain’s passion for Márquez.

BMW’s decision to promote Razgatlıoğlu to its factory MotoGP squad for 2026 (alongside a yet-to-be-announced teammate) confirms the belief inside Munich. Sources inside the German manufacturer say the budget for 2026 has been increased by 40 % specifically because of Toprak’s arrival.

The goal is clear: win races in year one and fight for the title in 2027, exactly the path Márquez took with Repsol Honda.

Toprak himself remains humble in public but fierce in private. After the Australian GP he told reporters, “I respect Marc, Valentino, everyone. But I didn’t leave WorldSBK to finish eighth.

I came to win.” His trainer, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that Toprak has a photo of Márquez lifting the 2019 title trophy taped inside his helmet box, with the handwritten note: “This will be me.”

Razgatlıoğlu’s words, delivered during a post-season press conference in Valencia on November 17, 2025, sent shockwaves through the paddock. Fresh from clinching his second WSBK title on a BMW, the Turkish sensation is no stranger to controversy. His move to MotoGP has been the talk of the town since June.

The 29-year-old, often called “El Turco” for his aggressive riding style, didn’t mince words about Ducati’s current stranglehold on the premier class. Ducati secured all three championships in 2025, with riders like Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Márquez dominating the grid. Toprak’s challenge feels personal.

“I’ve battled Ducati in Superbike for years,” Razgatlıoğlu explained, referencing his epic duels with Nicolo Bulega. “Their Panigale V4 is a beast, but MotoGP’s new rules will level the field. Pirelli tires in 2027? That’s my wheelhouse. 2026 is my learning year, but Ducati won’t sweep it clean.”

The Márquez comparison is inevitable. Both riders share an almost reckless commitment to the limit, both recovered from horror injuries (Toprak’s nine broken bones in 2021, Marc’s arm nightmare), and both have managers who think in decades, not seasons.

Sofuoğlu already negotiates merchandising deals that include Toprak’s signature “stoppie” celebration and plans a documentary series titled “From Sakarya to the Throne.”

Turkish sponsors are lining up. Turkish Airlines, Red Bull Turkey, and the government-backed tourism campaign “GoTürkiye” are ready to pump millions into the project.

President Erdoğan reportedly called Toprak personally after the Phillip Island podium, telling him, “You are carrying our flag now.” The pressure is enormous, but Sofuoğlu insists it is fuel.

Critics point out that no rider has won the MotoGP title straight from WorldSBK since the modern era began. Max Biaggi came close, Cal Crutchlow won races, but nobody dominated immediately. Sofuoğlu laughs at the statistic: “Marc won in his sixth race as a rookie.

Toprak will do better.” He predicts the first victory in 2026 at Istanbul Park, the new Turkish Grand Prix scheduled for July.

Inside the paddock, reactions vary. Márquez, asked about the Turkish threat, smiled and said, “I like his style. If he adapts to the Michelin front tyre fast, he will be dangerous.” Pecco Bagnaia was more direct: “He brakes like a madman.

If he doesn’t crash, he will be on the podium every Sunday.”

For the fans, the romance is irresistible. A kid from a modest family in northwest Turkey, trained by a national hero, now riding a Bavarian rocket with the dream of becoming the new king.

Social media already explodes with edits of Toprak’s overtakes set to Turkish hip-hop, captioned “The Sultan is coming.”

As winter testing begins in Sepang in February 2026, all eyes will be on the black-and-turquoise BMW M1000RR wearing number 54. Kenan Sofuoğlu will be in the garage, arms crossed, repeating his mantra: “We didn’t come here for posters.

We came here to be the poster.” The dream of turning the King of Superbike into the immortal face of MotoGP is no longer a whisper; it is a roar echoing from Alanya to Valencia and beyond. Marc Márquez has been warned