We have had preseason, we have had presentations and now, finally, it is the turn of the Thai Grand Prix, the opening event of the 2026 season. A season that will be the last of the current regulations and that, a priori, seemed like it could be a repetition in terms of technical evolution. But the factories have continued working, evolving, and in this Thai Grand Prix we will see the final prototypes for the first time.
And despite the tests and what we have been able to see in them, the real fire starts in Buriram with the engines closed and the aerodynamic package defined. Starting in FP1 we will begin to see who is in each place although, a priori, it seems logical to think that Ducati will be the reference with Aprilia very close.
The battle for victory, at least from what was seen in the preseason, seems something reserved for the drivers of the two factories. In the case of Ducati, it is logical to think of the Márquez brothers and Pecco Bagnaia as the main candidates for victory in the Thai Grand Prix, with the two VR46 riders one step below but without ruling them out. Yes, Michele Pirro is ruled out, who covers the loss of Fermín Aldeguer.
For its part, Aprilia’s attention is focused mainly on Bezzecchi, but we must not forget that Jorge Martín has been progressing and is already very close, and that both Raúl Fernández and Ai Ogura have shown their potential. In the end, the battle between Borgo Panigale and Noale gives us nine contenders to fight for the podium, and that’s not counting KTM and Honda.
Because both KTM and Honda have been working and evolving, and they cannot be left out right away. At KTM Acosta, Viñales and Binder have been competitive at different times during the preseason, as have Mir, Zarco and Marini. Of course, at least for the moment, it does not seem that in dry conditions and without exceptional situations, neither of the two manufacturers can offer a motorcycle to beat the Italians.
And meanwhile, Yamaha seems to be playing in another category, but not higher… The Japanese are trying to turn the project around and that is neither simple nor fast. In their favor they play with the experience of three of their four drivers and the speed of Quartararo, but if things do not change much, the most they can hope for at least in the Thai Grand Prix will be to fight for the last points. A very limited reward for the effort they are making.
Where to watch the 2026 Thai Grand Prix
Once again, the only way to enjoy the Grand Prix live is DAZN, either through the DAZN 1 channel that it has on Movistar, on DAZN’s own website, or on the rest of the platforms that offer their content.
It can also be followed live thanks to the MotoGP Videopass, through the championship website, although in this case the narration is in English. For now there is no other way to watch training and races live.
2026 Thai Grand Prix schedules
Friday, February 27:
- 03:00 – 03:35: Moto3 – Free Practice
- 03:50 – 04:30: Moto2 – Free Practice 1
- 04:45 – 05:30: MotoGP – Free Practice 1
- 07:15 – 07:50: Moto3 – Practice
- 08:05 – 08:45: Moto2 – Practice
- 09:00 – 10:00: MotoGP – Practice
Saturday February 28:
- 02:40 – 03:10: Moto3 – Free Practice 2
- 03:25 – 03:55: Moto2 – Free Practice 2
- 04:10 – 04:40: MotoGP – Free Practice 2
- 04:50 – 05:05: MotoGP – Q1
- 05:15 – 05:30: MotoGP – Q2
- 06:50 – 07:05: Moto3 – Q1
- 07:15 – 07:30: Moto3 – Q2
- 07:45 – 08:00: Moto2 – Q1
- 08:00 – 08:10: Moto2 – Q2
- 09:00 – 10.00: MotoGP – Sprint Race (13 laps)
Sunday March 1:
- 04:40 – 04:50 hours: MotoGP – Warm up
- 06:00: Moto3 race (19 laps)
- 07:15: Moto2 race (22 laps)
- 09:00: MotoGP race (26 laps)
