Summary
- MotoGP FP1 starts on Friday, 2 October, at 10:45 in Japan, 02:45 BST and 07:15 IST.
- The afternoon Practice session begins at 15:00 JST, with direct places in Q2 at stake.
- In Los Angeles and Vancouver, both Friday sessions take place on Thursday evening.
MotoGP practice for the Japanese Grand Prix begins on Friday, 2 October, at 10:45 local time at Mobility Resort Motegi. The premier class returns for the afternoon Practice session at 15:00 JST, when riders compete for direct entry into Q2.
UK viewers face an early start, with FP1 at 02:45 BST and Practice at 07:00 BST. In India, the sessions begin at 07:15 IST and 11:30 IST, respectively.
For fans in the United States and Canada, the opening session falls on Thursday, 1 October. On the Pacific coast, both sessions take place before midnight, making the local date particularly important when planning viewing.
Japanese MotoGP Friday practice times
| Country / city | Time zone | FP1 | Practice — Q2 places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan — Motegi | JST | Friday 2, 10:45 | Friday 2, 15:00 |
| United Kingdom — London | BST | Friday 2, 02:45 | Friday 2, 07:00 |
| United States — New York | EDT | Thursday 1, 21:45 | Friday 2, 02:00 |
| United States — Los Angeles | PDT | Thursday 1, 18:45 | Thursday 1, 23:00 |
| Canada — Toronto / Montreal | EDT | Thursday 1, 21:45 | Friday 2, 02:00 |
| Canada — Vancouver | PDT | Thursday 1, 18:45 | Thursday 1, 23:00 |
| India — New Delhi / Mumbai | IST | Friday 2, 07:15 | Friday 2, 11:30 |
| Australia — Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane | AEST | Friday 2, 11:45 | Friday 2, 16:00 |
| Australia — Adelaide | ACST | Friday 2, 11:15 | Friday 2, 15:30 |
| Australia — Perth | AWST | Friday 2, 09:45 | Friday 2, 14:00 |
Dates are local to each location. The timetable remains subject to changes by the organisers.
The full weekend programme is available in the Japanese MotoGP schedule, including qualifying, Sprint and race times. Friday’s two sessions have different purposes, with the afternoon running carrying the immediate qualifying consequence.
Why Friday afternoon Practice matters
FP1 gives riders an opening opportunity to assess the track and work on their bikes. The afternoon Practice session determines which 10 riders advance directly to Q2, making it the first session with a decisive effect on their qualifying route.
Riders outside that top 10 must go through Q1 on Saturday. The two fastest riders in Q1 then join the direct qualifiers in Q2, where the leading grid positions are decided.
That distinction also explains the session names: Friday afternoon is officially Practice, while FP2 takes place on Saturday. The Friday sessions should therefore not be presented as FP1 and FP2.
Where can fans watch Japanese MotoGP practice?
Viewing options depend on the country and the sessions included in each broadcaster’s coverage. Fans should check whether their television package carries practice, rather than assuming that access to the Sprint or Grand Prix includes every session.
For the available platforms and the distinction between television and streaming coverage, consult the Japanese MotoGP TV guide for the UK, US, India, Australia and Canada.
What happens after Friday practice?
Saturday’s programme includes FP2, qualifying and the Sprint. Sunday brings the main Grand Prix, completing the Japanese round before the championship travels to Indonesia the following weekend.
The Japanese Grand Prix takes place at Mobility Resort Motegi from 2–4 October, as the 16th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover the sessions, results and developments throughout the weekend.
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.
