JAPANESE GP SPRINT STARTS AT 8 AM; NO LIVE GERMAN FREE-TO-AIR COVERAGE

The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix takes place from Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4, with sessions scheduled in Central European Summer Time. The weekend’s early-morning timetable reflects the time difference for European viewers, and broadcast options vary by country.

In Germany, the Japanese round is not among the 12 MotoGP events selected for free live coverage on DF1 in 2026. Those chosen races are also available digitally through ServusTV On and Red Bull TV, while other meetings receive highlights. Sky Sport and MotoGP’s official streaming service carry all 22 rounds on paid platforms. ServusTV ended its linear broadcasting in Germany at the turn of 2023–24 and now works with DF1; selected MotoGP races are due to move to free-to-air RTL coverage in Germany from 2027.

Austrian viewers can watch through ServusTV’s free television and digital services, including Red Bull TV. Its Saturday coverage begins at 3:40 a.m. with MotoGP qualifying, followed from 5:40 a.m. by the Moto3 and Moto2 qualifying sessions and the MotoGP Sprint. Sunday’s live coverage of all three races starts at 3:35 a.m. ServusTV On begins broadcasting on Friday.

In Switzerland, the SRG’s coverage is shared across SRF, RTS and RSI. SRF two shows Sunday’s MotoGP race live from 6:50 a.m.; its stream and sports app carry both Saturday’s Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix live. RSI’s LA2 broadcasts MotoGP qualifying at 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, followed from 5:40 a.m. by the lower-class qualifying sessions and the Sprint. It also schedules a Sprint replay at 5:35 p.m. On Sunday, LA2’s live coverage of all classes begins at 3:55 a.m., with a MotoGP race recap at 8:05 p.m. RTS2 shows the Sprint from 7:55 a.m. Saturday and the MotoGP race from 6:50 a.m. Sunday. Rights arrangements may mean legal coverage is also available through other providers.

Track action starts Friday with Moto3 practice at 2:00 a.m., Moto2 at 2:50 a.m. and MotoGP at 3:45 a.m. A further practice session for each class runs from 6:15 a.m.; MotoGP’s is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Saturday begins with second practice for Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP from 1:40 a.m. MotoGP qualifying follows at 3:50 a.m., with Q2 at 4:15 a.m. The Sprint is set for 8:00 a.m. and will cover 12 laps. Moto3 qualifying is scheduled from 5:45 a.m., with Q2 at 6:10 a.m.; Moto2 qualifying begins at 6:40 a.m., followed by Q2 at 7:05 a.m.

Sunday’s MotoGP warm-up is scheduled for 2:40 a.m. The 17-lap Moto3 race starts at 4:00 a.m., followed by the 19-lap Moto2 race at 5:15 a.m. The 24-lap MotoGP Grand Prix is due to begin at 7:00 a.m. No rider or team quotes are included in the source.