MotoGP, Sportrik Media - MotoGP has officially confirmed the complete schedule for pre-season and in-season testing across the 2026 campaign, outlining a critical preparation phase for riders and teams ahead of the new world championship season.
The pre-season programme begins with the Sepang Shakedown from 29–31 January, followed by the first official on-track action at the Sepang International Circuit with the Sepang Official Test scheduled for 3–5 February in Malaysia. Teams and riders will then travel to Kuala Lumpur on 7 February for the official launch of the 2026 MotoGP season.
From there, MotoGP heads to Thailand, where the Chang International Circuit in Buriram will host a two-day Official Test on 21–22 February. The Buriram test takes place one week before the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix, making it the final opportunity to refine race setups ahead of competitive action.
Once the season is underway, MotoGP will feature four additional days of testing. Two official in-season tests will be held following the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez and the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona, with riders running tyres supplied by official MotoGP partner Michelin.
In addition, non-official post-race tests with the 2027 tyre supplier are planned for the Monday following the Czech Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix. These sessions are intended to support longer-term technical development without affecting the competitive balance of the 2026 season.
MotoGP 2026 Testing Calendar
| Test Phase | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sepang Shakedown | 29–31 January | Sepang, Malaysia |
| Sepang Official Test | 3–5 February | Sepang, Malaysia |
| Season Launch | 7 February | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Buriram Official Test | 21–22 February | Buriram, Thailand |
| In-Season Official Test | After Spanish GP | Jerez, Spain |
| In-Season Official Test | After Catalan GP | Barcelona, Spain |
| 2027 Tyre Test (Non-official) | After Czech GP | Brno, Czech Republic |
| 2027 Tyre Test (Non-official) | After Austrian GP | Spielberg, Austria |
Moto2 and Moto3 2026 Testing Calendar
Testing schedules for Moto2 and Moto3 have also been confirmed, with sessions divided by category to optimise track time and technical focus.
| Class | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Moto3 Pre-Season Test | 9–10 February | Portimao, Portugal |
| Moto2 Pre-Season Test | 11–12 February | Portimao, Portugal |
| Moto3 Official Test | 14–15 February | Jerez, Spain |
| Moto2 Official Test | 16–17 February | Jerez, Spain |
| Moto3 Mid-Season Test | After Spanish GP | Jerez, Spain |
| Moto2 Mid-Season Test | After Catalan GP | Barcelona, Spain |
With a structured and intensive testing programme in place, the 2026 MotoGP season places increased emphasis on early technical readiness. Performance indicators from Sepang and Buriram are expected to provide the first clear reference points before the championship moves into its opening competitive phase.
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