MotoGP returns to Misano this weekend for the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera, with the championship entering a crucial stage after Marc Márquez’s perfect Aragón weekend. Jorge Martín still leads the standings, but Márquez has closed the gap to 19 points, while Marco Bezzecchi is 24 points behind the Aprilia rider. Márquez moved into second after his Aragón sweep.
The event is the 14th round of the 2026 MotoGP season and takes place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, a 4.23-km track with 16 corners. The official MotoGP schedule confirms 27 laps for Sunday’s premier-class race.
2026 San Marino MotoGP schedule
All times below are for the MotoGP class. The circuit operates on Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2).
| Session | Date | US/Canada ET | UK (BST) | India (IST) | Australia (AEST) | New Zealand (NZST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FP1 | Fri, Sep 11 | 04:45–05:30 | 09:45–10:30 | 14:15–15:00 | 18:45–19:30 | 20:45–21:30 |
| Practice | Fri, Sep 11 | 09:00–10:00 | 14:00–15:00 | 18:30–19:30 | 23:00–00:00 | Sat 01:00–02:00 |
| FP2 | Sat, Sep 12 | 04:10–04:40 | 09:10–09:40 | 13:40–14:10 | 18:10–18:40 | 20:10–20:40 |
| Q1 | Sat, Sep 12 | 04:50–05:05 | 09:50–10:05 | 14:20–14:35 | 18:50–19:05 | 20:50–21:05 |
| Q2 | Sat, Sep 12 | 05:15–05:30 | 10:15–10:30 | 14:45–15:00 | 19:15–19:30 | 21:15–21:30 |
| Sprint | Sat, Sep 12 | 09:00 | 14:00 | 18:30 | 23:00 | Sun 01:00 |
| Warm Up | Sun, Sep 13 | 03:40–03:50 | 08:40–08:50 | 13:10–13:20 | 17:40–17:50 | 19:40–19:50 |
| Grand Prix | Sun, Sep 13 | 08:00 | 13:00 | 17:30 | 22:00 | 00:00 Mon |
The official timetable confirms MotoGP FP1 at 10:45 on Friday, Practice at 15:00, FP2 at 10:10 and qualifying from 10:50 on Saturday, the Sprint at 15:00, and Sunday’s Grand Prix at 14:00.
Friday: MotoGP practice
The first MotoGP track action comes on Friday, September 11, with FP1 beginning at 10:45am in Misano. The premier class returns at 3:00pm for the one-hour Practice session, which determines the riders advancing directly to Q2.
For viewers in the United States, the key times are 4:45am and 9:00am ET, while the UK gets the sessions at 9:45am and 2:00pm. In India, they take place at 2:15pm and 6:30pm.
The European timing makes Friday relatively straightforward for UK viewers, while the US West Coast faces an especially early start.
Saturday: qualifying and MotoGP Sprint
Saturday begins with MotoGP FP2 at 10:10am CEST, followed by Q1 at 10:50 and Q2 at 11:15. The qualifying results establish the grid for both the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
For the main English-speaking markets, Q2 starts at 5:15am ET, 2:15am PT, 10:15am BST, 2:45pm IST, 7:15pm AEST and 9:15pm NZST.
The Sprint then starts at 3:00pm CEST, meaning 9:00am ET, 6:00am PT, 2:00pm BST, 6:30pm IST, 11:00pm AEST and 1:00am NZST on Sunday.
The Misano Sprint will cover 13 laps, while Sunday’s full Grand Prix is scheduled for 27 laps.
Sunday: 2026 San Marino MotoGP race
Race day starts with MotoGP Warm Up at 9:40am local time, before the support-class races. The main event is scheduled for 2:00pm CEST, or 9:00am BRT, 8:00am ET, 5:00am PT, 1:00pm BST, 5:30pm IST, 10:00pm AEST and midnight NZST.
The 27-lap San Marino GP is therefore particularly accessible for European and Indian audiences, while fans in the US and Canada will have an early Sunday start. Australian viewers face a late-night race, with New Zealanders watching at midnight Monday.
Why the San Marino GP matters in the 2026 title fight
Misano arrives with one of the closest championship battles of the season. Martín leads on 256 points, Márquez has 237 and Bezzecchi 232 after Aragón, meaning the top three are separated by only 24 points. Martín expects to defend his MotoGP lead at Misano.
Márquez arrives with maximum momentum after taking every available point at Aragón, but Martín has previously won at Misano and believes the circuit can suit Aprilia. Márquez has already identified the Indonesian GP as his biggest remaining concern.
Francesco Bagnaia also has a major storyline heading into his home event. The Ducati rider endured a scoreless Aragón weekend and dropped to eighth in the standings, but Misano offers a circuit where he has historically been strong. Bagnaia described his current form as one of the worst moments of his career.
San Marino GP circuit information
The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli measures 4.23 km and features 16 corners — 10 right-handers and six left-handers. MotoGP’s official data lists a 530-metre longest straight and a 12-metre track width.
The circuit first hosted a motorcycle Grand Prix in 1980 and has been a regular part of the MotoGP calendar since 2007. Its location in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region also puts it at the heart of the country’s famous Motor Valley, home to manufacturers including Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Dallara.
FAQ
What time is the 2026 San Marino MotoGP race?
The San Marino GP starts at 2:00pm local time on Sunday, September 13. That is 9:00am in Brazil, 8:00am ET in the US and Canada, 1:00pm in the UK, 5:30pm in India and 10:00pm in eastern Australia.
What time is MotoGP qualifying at Misano?
MotoGP qualifying takes place on Saturday, September 12, with Q1 at 10:50am and Q2 at 11:15am local time. Q2 starts at 5:15am ET, 2:15am PT, 10:15am BST and 2:45pm IST.
When is the 2026 San Marino MotoGP Sprint?
The 13-lap MotoGP Sprint starts at 3:00pm local time on Saturday, September 12. It begins at 9:00am ET, 6:00am PT, 2:00pm BST, 6:30pm IST and 11:00pm AEST.
