The 2026 MotoGP World Championship season kicks off spectacularly in Buriram, Thailand, at the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix at the Chang International Circuit: one of the most popular and technically challenging circuits on the calendar. This is the second consecutive year that Buriram hosts the season opener, and it promises to be another unforgettable motorsport weekend. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about the kick-off of the 2026 MotoGP season.
Dates & Schedule MotoGP Buriram
Location
The first race on the 2026 MotoGP calendar takes place at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand. Although the circuit is still relatively “young” (opened in 2014), it has quickly developed into one of the most popular stops on the MotoGP calendar — and for good reason.
The Buriram circuit is modern, fast, and built for spectacle. With a main straight of over 1 kilometer and heavy braking zones, the track delivers hard overtaking moves and thrilling slipstream battles.
Thailand’s high temperatures make tire management even more important, often turning races here into both strategic and physically demanding contests. Its stop-and-go character rewards bikes with strong acceleration, making it especially interesting for MotoGP racing.
Schedule
The race weekend takes place from February 27 to March 1, 2026. The sprint race starts on Saturday, February 28 at 3:00 PM local time (9:00 AM in the Netherlands), and the main race begins at 3:00 PM local time (9:00 AM in the Netherlands) on Sunday, March 1.
- Friday: Free practice sessions for MotoGP, Moto2 & Moto3
- Saturday: Qualifying & Sprint Race for MotoGP
- Sunday: Warm-up, Moto3, Moto2 & MotoGP Main Race
The Buriram Pre-Season Test
Before the Grand Prix weekend, an important official pre-season test was held on February 21–22, 2026 at the same circuit. This was the final opportunity for teams to fine-tune their 2026 machines and collect data under real race conditions.
Key Test Results
- Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) was the fastest during the test and broke the unofficial lap record at Buriram with a time of 1:28.668.
- Bezzecchi’s performance shows that Aprilia could be a serious contender for the race, with strong pace in both short laps and longer runs.
- Aprilia’s Ai Ogura finished close behind Bezzecchi, giving the team a 1–2 result in the test standings.
- Ducati riders such as Marc Márquez and Pecco Bagnaia also showed strong speed, although Márquez crashed several times during the test.
- Yamaha had a difficult test and was clearly behind the top teams in terms of lap times.
Summary
The MotoGP in Buriram 2026 marks an explosive start to the season, featuring a challenging circuit and hot race conditions. After their strong performance in the pre-season test, we can expect great things from Aprilia. Who are you supporting this season?
