Summary
- The Japanese MotoGP race starts at 14:00 JST on Sunday, 4 October.
- West Coast viewers in the US and Canada watch at 22:00 PDT on Saturday, 3 October.
- Martín leads Márquez by seven points, with the championship lead at stake at Motegi.
The Japanese MotoGP race starts at 14:00 local time on Sunday, 4 October, at Mobility Resort Motegi. That is 06:00 in the United Kingdom, 01:00 on the US and Canadian east coasts, 10:30 in India and 16:00 in Sydney and Melbourne.
For viewers in Los Angeles and Vancouver, the race begins at 22:00 on Saturday, 3 October. The date difference matters: the Japanese Sunday afternoon race falls on Saturday evening across much of North America.
The MotoGP championship lead is also in play. Jorge Martín enters the main race with 313 points, seven ahead of Marc Márquez after the Ducati rider won Saturday’s Sprint.
Japanese MotoGP race start times
| Country or region | Local date | Race start | Time zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan — Motegi | Sunday, 4 October | 14:00 | JST |
| United Kingdom | Sunday, 4 October | 06:00 | BST |
| United States — New York and Miami | Sunday, 4 October | 01:00 | EDT |
| United States — Chicago and Austin | Sunday, 4 October | 00:00 | CDT |
| United States — Denver | Saturday, 3 October | 23:00 | MDT |
| United States — Los Angeles | Saturday, 3 October | 22:00 | PDT |
| Canada — Toronto and Montreal | Sunday, 4 October | 01:00 | EDT |
| Canada — Winnipeg | Sunday, 4 October | 00:00 | CDT |
| Canada — Calgary | Saturday, 3 October | 23:00 | MDT |
| Canada — Vancouver | Saturday, 3 October | 22:00 | PDT |
| India | Sunday, 4 October | 10:30 | IST |
| UTC reference | Sunday, 4 October | 05:00 | UTC |
Midnight in Chicago, Austin and Winnipeg means the start of Sunday. Fans in those locations should prepare to watch late on Saturday night.
What time is the Japanese MotoGP race in Australia?
Daylight saving begins in participating Australian states on Sunday, 4 October, before the race. Sydney and Melbourne therefore use AEDT, while Adelaide uses ACDT.
Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory keep their existing offsets.
| Australian location | Race start — Sunday, 4 October | Time zone |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart | 16:00 | AEDT |
| Adelaide | 15:30 | ACDT |
| Brisbane | 15:00 | AEST |
| Darwin | 14:30 | ACST |
| Perth | 13:00 | AWST |
The clock change means viewers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide should use Sunday’s daylight-saving conversion, rather than the offset used for Saturday’s Sprint.
Sunday’s Motegi race schedule
Moto3 opens the race programme at 11:00 JST, followed by Moto2 at 12:15 and the premier-class race at 14:00.
| Race | Japan — JST | UK — BST | US/Canada Eastern — EDT | US/Canada Pacific — PDT | India — IST | Sydney/Melbourne — AEDT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moto3 | Sun 4, 11:00 | Sun 4, 03:00 | Sat 3, 22:00 | Sat 3, 19:00 | Sun 4, 07:30 | Sun 4, 13:00 |
| Moto2 | Sun 4, 12:15 | Sun 4, 04:15 | Sat 3, 23:15 | Sat 3, 20:15 | Sun 4, 08:45 | Sun 4, 14:15 |
| MotoGP | Sun 4, 14:00 | Sun 4, 06:00 | Sun 4, 01:00 | Sat 3, 22:00 | Sun 4, 10:30 | Sun 4, 16:00 |
Times refer to the scheduled race starts. Television coverage may begin earlier, and the organisers can amend the programme.
Warm-up extended after Michelin’s tyre decision
Sunday’s MotoGP warm-up has been extended to 20 minutes after Michelin withdrew the soft rear tyre from the race allocation. The additional running gives riders more time to assess their remaining options.
The original timetable listed warm-up from 09:40 to 09:50 JST. Its revised start time should be checked against the updated event timetable before the session; the original ten-minute window should not be treated as the confirmed amended schedule.
The medium rear remains available, while Michelin recommends the reinforced hard for the race. The reasons and implications are explained in the report on Michelin’s Motegi tyre change.
Where can you watch the Japanese MotoGP race?
Broadcast and streaming options vary by country. Consult the Japanese MotoGP TV guide for the UK, US, India, Australia and Canada for the relevant services and viewing options.
Check the provider’s programme start as well as the official race time, particularly in North America, where several sessions fall on Saturday evening.
Can Marc Márquez take the championship lead?
Yes. Márquez needs to gain at least seven points on Martín, with the Ducati rider holding the advantage on the grand prix victory tiebreak if they finish level.
A Márquez victory with Martín third or lower would put him ahead. If Márquez wins and Martín finishes second, however, Martín retains the lead by two points.
MotoGP continues this weekend, from 2–4 October, in Japan. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Motegi.
MotoGP today: FAQ
Who won the Japanese MotoGP race today?
Marc Márquez won the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, finishing 1.363s ahead of Jorge Martín. Marco Bezzecchi completed the podium, while Márquez secured a weekend double after also winning Saturday’s Sprint.
Who leads the MotoGP championship after the Japanese GP?
Jorge Martín remains the MotoGP championship leader with 333 points, just 2 ahead of Marc Márquez on 331. Márquez’s two victories in Japan reduced the gap from 12 points at the start of the weekend.
When is the next MotoGP race?
The next MotoGP race is the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The weekend runs from 9–11 October.
What time does the Japanese MotoGP race start?
It starts at 14:00 JST on Sunday, 4 October: 06:00 BST, 01:00 EDT and 10:30 IST.
