Summary
- Japanese MotoGP qualifying starts at 10:50 JST on Saturday, 3 October.
- In North America, qualifying takes place on Friday evening, 2 October.
- The Sprint starts at 15:00 JST — 07:00 in the UK and 02:00 on the US East Coast.
Yes — MotoGP has track action today, Friday, 2 October, with Japanese Grand Prix practice already completed at Motegi. The next sessions are Saturday’s final practice, qualifying and Sprint, although the time difference means North American viewers will watch qualifying on Friday evening.
Qualifying begins at 10:50 Japan time on Saturday, 3 October, with Q1 followed by Q2 at 11:15. That is 21:50 on Friday in New York and Toronto, or 18:50 in Los Angeles and Vancouver.
The 12-lap Sprint follows at 15:00 JST. It begins at 02:00 on Saturday on the US East Coast, while viewers on the West Coast can watch at 23:00 on Friday.
When does Japanese MotoGP qualifying begin?
The fight for pole starts with Q1 at 10:50 JST. The two fastest riders from that session advance to Q2, joining the ten competitors who qualified directly through Friday Practice.
Q2 begins at 11:15 JST and determines the leading grid positions. Qualifying establishes the starting order for both the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix, subject to any applicable penalties.
Álex Márquez led Friday Practice ahead of Pedro Acosta and Marc Márquez. Readers can review Friday’s results and the riders who missed direct Q2 entry before Saturday’s action.
Japanese MotoGP qualifying and Sprint start times
| Market / city | Time zone | Q1 | Q2 | Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan — Motegi | JST | Sat 3 Oct, 10:50 | Sat 3 Oct, 11:15 | Sat 3 Oct, 15:00 |
| United Kingdom | BST | Sat 3 Oct, 02:50 | Sat 3 Oct, 03:15 | Sat 3 Oct, 07:00 |
| US / Canada — New York, Toronto | EDT | Fri 2 Oct, 21:50 | Fri 2 Oct, 22:15 | Sat 3 Oct, 02:00 |
| US / Canada — Chicago, Winnipeg | CDT | Fri 2 Oct, 20:50 | Fri 2 Oct, 21:15 | Sat 3 Oct, 01:00 |
| US / Canada — Denver, Calgary | MDT | Fri 2 Oct, 19:50 | Fri 2 Oct, 20:15 | Sat 3 Oct, 00:00 |
| US / Canada — Los Angeles, Vancouver | PDT | Fri 2 Oct, 18:50 | Fri 2 Oct, 19:15 | Fri 2 Oct, 23:00 |
| India | IST | Sat 3 Oct, 07:20 | Sat 3 Oct, 07:45 | Sat 3 Oct, 11:30 |
| Australia — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | AEST | Sat 3 Oct, 11:50 | Sat 3 Oct, 12:15 | Sat 3 Oct, 16:00 |
| Australia — Adelaide, Darwin | ACST | Sat 3 Oct, 11:20 | Sat 3 Oct, 11:45 | Sat 3 Oct, 15:30 |
| Australia — Perth | AWST | Sat 3 Oct, 09:50 | Sat 3 Oct, 10:15 | Sat 3 Oct, 14:00 |
Dates and times refer to each location. The schedule is subject to changes by the organisers.
Is there practice before qualifying?
Yes. MotoGP’s final practice begins at 10:10 JST on Saturday, giving riders another opportunity to prepare before Q1 and Q2.
That corresponds to 02:10 BST in the UK, 06:40 IST in India and 11:10 AEST in Sydney. In New York and Toronto, it starts at 21:10 on Friday; in Los Angeles and Vancouver, at 18:10.
Unlike Friday Practice, this session does not decide direct entry into Q2. The complete Saturday Motegi schedule explains the sequence of final practice, qualifying and the Sprint.
Where can I watch the Japanese MotoGP?
TV and streaming coverage varies by country and session. Check the Japanese MotoGP viewing guide for the UK, US, India, Australia and Canada for the options available in your market.
North American viewers should check Friday listings for qualifying, even though the session is officially part of Saturday’s programme in Japan. The same date difference places the Sprint on Friday night for the Pacific time zone.
MotoGP continues this weekend, from 2–4 October, in Japan. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Motegi.
MotoGP today: FAQ
Why was Diogo Moreira promoted to second in the Japanese MotoGP Sprint?
Moreira crossed the line fourth but moved to second after Jorge Martín and Enea Bastianini each received a drop-one-position penalty for exceeding track limits on the final lap.
How far behind Jorge Martín is Marc Márquez?
Márquez trails Martín by seven points after winning the Japanese Sprint. Martín leads with 313 points, ahead of Márquez on 306.
What time does the Japanese MotoGP race start?
The race starts on Sunday, 4 October, at 14:00 JST: 06:00 BST in the UK, 01:00 EDT in eastern US and Canada, 10:30 IST in India and 16:00 AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne. On the US and Canadian west coast, it starts at 22:00 PDT on Saturday, 3 October.
Is there MotoGP today?
Yes. Friday practice has finished in Japan, and qualifying begins on Friday evening in the United States and Canada because of the time difference.
