MotoGP, Sportrik Media — The opening round of the 2026 season will take place at Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand, from February 27 to March 1, marking the start of the official MotoGP calendar. Attention is focused on reigning world champion Marc Márquez alongside Ducati Lenovo Team.
The 2026 grid introduces notable changes, including the premier class debut of Toprak Razgatlioglu, who arrives after securing multiple titles in the Superbike World Championship with BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Meanwhile, Diogo Moreira steps up following his Moto2 World Championship success, adding a new dynamic among rookie contenders.
Pre-season testing in Buriram highlighted strong pace from Marco Bezzecchi with Aprilia Racing, setting the benchmark ahead of the opening weekend. The Italian manufacturer demonstrated competitive consistency, positioning itself as a potential front-runner on a technically demanding circuit layout.
Several riders arrive with fitness concerns ahead of the season opener. Marc Márquez returns from a shoulder injury sustained late last season. Similar conditions have affected Jorge Martín and Maverick Viñales, while Fermín Aldeguer is ruled out due to injury earlier this year.
Below is the full schedule for the Thailand Grand Prix 2026 (Local Time – ICT):
Friday, 27 February 2026
| Time (ICT) | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Moto3 FP1 |
| 09:50 – 10:30 | Moto2 FP1 |
| 10:45 – 11:30 | MotoGP FP1 |
| 13:15 – 13:50 | Moto3 Practice |
| 14:05 – 14:45 | Moto2 Practice |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | MotoGP Practice |
Saturday, 28 February 2026
| Time (ICT) | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:40 – 09:10 | Moto3 FP2 |
| 09:25 – 09:55 | Moto2 FP2 |
| 10:10 – 10:40 | MotoGP FP2 |
| 10:50 – 11:05 | MotoGP Q1 |
| 11:15 – 11:30 | MotoGP Q2 |
| 12:50 – 13:05 | Moto3 Q1 |
| 13:15 – 13:30 | Moto3 Q2 |
| 13:45 – 14:00 | Moto2 Q1 |
| 14:10 – 14:25 | Moto2 Q2 |
| 15:00 | MotoGP Sprint |
Sunday, 1 March 2026
| Time (ICT) | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:40 – 09:50 | MotoGP Warm Up |
| 11:00 | Moto3 Race |
| 12:15 | Moto2 Race |
| 14:00 | MotoGP Race |
The Buriram round will serve as an early benchmark for teams and riders at the start of a long 2026 campaign, before the championship proceeds to the next round on the MotoGP calendar.
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