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Toprak Razgatlioglu’s rookie MotoGP campaign has been abruptly halted as he prepares to undergo shoulder surgery, a decision that required serious persuasion from his team. The triple WorldSBK champion suffered a dislocated right shoulder during final practice at Mandalika but stubbornly returned to compete in qualifying and the Sprint race before retiring early in the Grand Prix.
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Following his return to Europe, medical examinations revealed the injury was far more severe than initially assessed. Pramac Yamaha confirmed Razgatlioglu will undergo surgery in Milan on Monday, 26 October, to address the issue. “For sure, it's not a nice moment, not only for the team, but also for the MotoGP fans and for our sport,” Pramac team director Gino Borsoi told MotoGP pit lane reporter Jack Appleyard during FP1 at Phillip Island.
Borsoi revealed that Razgatlioglu was the only one eager to push through and finish the remaining five rounds of the season. “He tried to convince us to continue—actually, he was the only one convinced to finish the season and do the last five rounds. But at the end of the day, we have to think about next year. The right decision for Yamaha, the team and the doctors involved was to make a surgery and be ready for the next [season].”
The Pramac boss stressed the dangers of avoiding surgery, warning the shoulder could dislocate again even while riding, posing significant risks to Razgatlioglu and other riders on track. “It’s a problem. The shoulder can go out even when he's [riding] on track, so it becomes dangerous for him and for the other riders.”
Uncertainty looms over Razgatlioglu’s return to action, with Borsoi admitting it is unclear if the rider will be fit for the official 850cc/Pirelli test scheduled for 1 December, after the Valencia finale. “Honestly speaking, we don't know yet. After the surgery on Monday, we will have much more information about what's going on for the end of the season. If he can make, let's say, the test in Valencia is not decided yet, but at the moment, the most important thing is to have a surgery and fix the issue.”
Meanwhile, Pramac Yamaha’s hopes now rest squarely on Jack Miller, who faces an emotional final home race at Phillip Island amid rainy weather forecasts. Borsoi acknowledged the significance of the weekend for Miller and his supporters: “It's an emotional weekend for [Jack], for his family, for all the fans. And the last race here in Phillip Island, which is one of the best tracks in the world. It's a shame, but it is what it is. We are all concentrated to give all our best for [Jack], to get a nice result. So let's try our best to make this last weekend an incredible weekend for all of us.”
Miller showed competitive pace by briefly topping the timesheets in Friday’s FP1 on fresh tyres but also endured a high-speed crash at Turn 1, from which he emerged unscathed. To fill Razgatlioglu’s seat for the remaining rounds, Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez has been called up, tasked with stepping into the void left by the sidelined star.