MOTEGI SET TO HOST MOTOGP’S 2026 FLYAWAY SEASON OPENER
29 Sept 2026·
MotoGP heads to Mobility Resort Motegi for the Japanese Grand Prix on October 2–4, the opening round of its late-season flyaway stretch and round 16 of the 2026 championship. The visit is the 38th running of the Japanese GP as a premier-class event and Motegi’s 22nd time hosting it. The series will spend the next five rounds across the Far East, Oceania and the Middle East before returning to Europe for the final two rounds in November.
Pedro Acosta arrives as a Grand Prix winner for the first time after a commanding home victory in Austria. The KTM rider held off championship leader Jorge Martin by 1.017 seconds, securing KTM’s first win since 2022. Martin reclaimed the standings lead from Marc Marquez and takes a 12-point advantage over him to Japan. Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi is third, 42 points behind Martin. Acosta’s win lifted him to fourth, though he remains 72 points adrift of the leader.
The weekend includes a 12-lap Sprint on Saturday and a 24-lap Grand Prix on Sunday. UK viewers can watch live on TNT Sports and HBO Max. The Sprint replay will also air free on Quest, while highlights are due on the official MotoGP and TNT Sports YouTube channels.
Maverick Vinales is set to return for Tech3 after missing the last four rounds with a shoulder problem. Further examination revealed a small tear in the infraspinatus muscle, in addition to injuries sustained at the 2025 German GP. He also had a loose screw removed earlier this year. Vinales declined season-ending surgery during the summer break and has not secured a MotoGP seat for 2027; his KTM contract ends after this season.
Honda will be without Joan Mir at its home race. Mir became unwell at Misano and missed Austria while undergoing tests after irregular bloodwork. Somkiat Chantra, Honda’s factory World Superbike rider, will replace him, returning to MotoGP after finishing 15th at Motegi in 2025.
The forecast points to mostly dry conditions. Light rain is possible early Friday, but is expected to clear before track action. Temperatures are forecast to reach about 21°C for Friday practice, 22°C for Saturday’s Sprint and 19–20°C on Sunday, when clouds are expected.
Motegi has hosted the Japanese GP since 2004, becoming the event’s sole venue after Suzuka was deemed unsuitable for premier-class racing. Its stop-and-go layout and heavy braking make it a demanding circuit, with Turns 1, 2, 4, 7, 10 and 11 among the main passing opportunities.
Francesco Bagnaia won the 2025 race from pole and set the fastest lap, completing a Motegi double. The result was a striking return to form after a difficult run, but he has not won another Grand Prix since. Marc Marquez also clinched his seventh MotoGP title at Motegi last year, with five rounds remaining.