News Summary
- The Australian MotoGP sprint starts at 15:00 AEDT on Saturday, October 24, equivalent to 05:00 BST in the UK and 09:30 IST in India.
- Fans in New Zealand can watch at 17:00 NZDT, while the sprint begins at midnight Eastern Time in the United States and Canada.
- The 13-lap race awards up to 12 championship points, giving Marc Márquez an opportunity to overtake Jorge Martín before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The 2026 Australian MotoGP sprint will begin at 15:00 local time at Phillip Island on Saturday, October 24, as Jorge Martín and Marc Márquez resume their closely contested championship battle during the circuit’s final MotoGP weekend.
The sprint starts at 05:00 BST in the United Kingdom, 09:30 IST in India, 17:00 NZDT in New Zealand and 00:00 EDT in the eastern United States and Canada. Australian viewers in Sydney and Melbourne can watch at 15:00 AEDT, while the session begins at 12:00 in Perth.
The 13-lap race is particularly significant because Martín enters the weekend with 355 championship points, just two ahead of Márquez on 353. With 12 points available to the winner, the championship lead could change on Saturday before the final Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island takes place on Sunday.
What time is the Australian MotoGP sprint in each country?
The sprint is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at 15:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Time, equivalent to 04:00 UTC.
| Country / City | Local date | Sprint start |
|---|---|---|
| Australia — Melbourne / Sydney (AEDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 15:00 |
| Australia — Adelaide (ACDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 14:30 |
| Australia — Brisbane (AEST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 14:00 |
| Australia — Perth (AWST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 12:00 |
| New Zealand — Auckland (NZDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 17:00 |
| United Kingdom — London (BST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 05:00 |
| Ireland — Dublin (IST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 05:00 |
| India — New Delhi (IST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 09:30 |
| United States — New York (EDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 00:00 |
| United States — Chicago (CDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 23:00 |
| United States — Los Angeles (PDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 21:00 |
| Canada — Toronto (EDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 00:00 |
| Canada — Vancouver (PDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 21:00 |
| Brazil — Brasília (BRT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 01:00 |
| South Africa — Johannesburg (SAST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 06:00 |
| Singapore (SGT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 12:00 |
| Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur (MYT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 12:00 |
All times refer to the scheduled start of the MotoGP sprint, not the beginning of television coverage. The UK remains on BST on Saturday and switches to GMT early on Sunday, October 25.
What time is MotoGP qualifying at Phillip Island?
The sprint takes place after Saturday morning’s qualifying sessions, which determine the starting grid for both the sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Qualifying begins with Q1 at 10:50 AEDT, followed by Q2 at 11:15 AEDT.
The ten fastest riders from Friday’s Practice qualify directly for Q2, while the remaining competitors must contest Q1. The two fastest riders from Q1 progress to the final qualifying session, where pole position is decided.
The complete Saturday programme is as follows:
| Session | Phillip Island (AEDT) | UK (BST) | India (IST) | New Zealand (NZDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 2 | 10:10 | 00:10 | 04:40 | 12:10 |
| Qualifying 1 | 10:50 | 00:50 | 05:20 | 12:50 |
| Qualifying 2 | 11:15 | 01:15 | 05:45 | 13:15 |
| MotoGP sprint | 15:00 | 05:00 | 09:30 | 17:00 |
All sessions take place on Saturday, October 24, in the countries shown.
The sprint grid will therefore be established several hours before the race, giving teams time to evaluate tyre choices and prepare their motorcycles for the shorter contest.
How many laps is the Phillip Island MotoGP sprint?
The Australian MotoGP sprint will cover 13 laps of the 4.448km Phillip Island circuit, representing approximately half the distance of Sunday’s 27-lap Grand Prix.
The shorter format places a greater emphasis on the opening laps, qualifying position and immediate race pace. Riders have less time to recover from poor starts or mistakes, making track position particularly valuable.
Phillip Island’s layout creates an additional challenge because its fast, flowing corners place significant demands on the tyres, particularly the left side.
The coastal location can also produce rapidly changing weather conditions, with wind direction and temperature influencing motorcycle stability and grip.
The sprint awards championship points to the first nine finishers.
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 12 |
| 2nd | 9 |
| 3rd | 7 |
| 4th | 6 |
| 5th | 5 |
| 6th | 4 |
| 7th | 3 |
| 8th | 2 |
| 9th | 1 |
There are no points for finishing tenth or lower.
Martín and Márquez could swap MotoGP championship lead in sprint
The Australian sprint could become one of the most important races of the 2026 championship.
Jorge Martín arrives at Phillip Island with 355 points, compared with 353 for Marc Márquez, while Marco Bezzecchi occupies third place on 309.
| Position | Rider | Points | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. MARTÍN | 355 | — |
| 2 | M. MÁRQUEZ | 353 | -2 |
| 3 | M. BEZZECCHI | 309 | -46 |
Because Márquez trails Martín by only two points, he could take the championship lead during Saturday’s sprint.
For example, a victory for Márquez would give him 12 points. If Martín finished second, he would receive nine, allowing Márquez to move ahead by one point.
A second-place finish for Márquez could also be sufficient if Martín finished fourth or lower.
Bezzecchi remains mathematically involved but faces a substantially larger deficit. The Aprilia rider needs to outscore both leading contenders consistently to reduce the gap before the final rounds.
The championship situation adds significance to qualifying, because starting near the front could be decisive in a 13-lap race.
Phillip Island has produced several memorable championship battles, and the circuit’s final MotoGP weekend also offers five historical records for Márquez and his rivals to chase.
Where to watch the Australian MotoGP sprint live
The sprint will be available through MotoGP’s authorised broadcasting partners, with different television and streaming options depending on the country.
| Market | TV / streaming |
|---|---|
| Australia | Network 10 (free-to-air), Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo Sports |
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports and eligible streaming services |
| India | FanCode |
| New Zealand | Local authorised MotoGP broadcasters |
| United States | Official MotoGP broadcast partners / VideoPass where available |
| Canada | Authorised local broadcaster / VideoPass where available |
Network 10 has confirmed live free-to-air coverage of the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday and Sunday, including Saturday’s sprint. Fox Sports, Foxtel and Kayo provide broader coverage of practice, qualifying and races.
Australian viewers can also use MotoGP VideoPass, subject to subscription and territorial availability.
The complete Phillip Island television and streaming guide explains the available options for Australia, the United Kingdom, India and other major markets.
Why is the 2026 Phillip Island sprint historic?
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix will be the final MotoGP event at Phillip Island before the championship relocates to Adelaide in 2027.
The circuit first hosted the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix in 1989, when Wayne Gardner claimed victory in front of his home crowd. After several seasons at Eastern Creek, the event returned to Phillip Island in 1997.
The venue subsequently became associated with some of the championship’s most recognisable performances, particularly Casey Stoner’s six consecutive victories between 2007 and 2012.
The farewell weekend will feature a ceremonial reunion of Stoner, Mick Doohan and Gardner, who will participate in a special lap before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The three Australian world champions will reunite at Phillip Island, while Kevin Schwantz will also participate in the celebrations.
The American recently acknowledged that never finishing either of his two Phillip Island Grands Prix remains one of his greatest career regrets.
The sprint will therefore be the last Saturday MotoGP race held at the circuit under the current arrangements.
What time is Sunday’s Australian MotoGP race?
The main Australian Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at 14:00 AEDT, equivalent to 16:00 NZDT, 08:30 IST and 03:00 GMT.
The difference between Saturday’s and Sunday’s British times is important because the United Kingdom switches from summer time to winter time during the early hours of October 25.
Saturday’s sprint begins at 05:00 BST, while Sunday’s Grand Prix begins at 03:00 GMT.
The full Australian MotoGP race-time guide provides start times for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, the United Kingdom and other countries.
FAQ
What time is the Australian MotoGP sprint in 2026?
The sprint begins at 15:00 AEDT on Saturday, October 24, at Phillip Island. It starts at 05:00 BST in the United Kingdom and 09:30 IST in India.
What time is the MotoGP sprint in New Zealand?
The sprint begins at 17:00 NZDT on Saturday, October 24.
How many laps is the Australian MotoGP sprint?
The sprint will cover 13 laps, with championship points awarded to the first nine riders and 12 points available to the winner.
