News Summary
- The Qatar MotoGP race starts at 4pm GMT on Sunday, November 8, equivalent to 9:30pm IST in India.
- Australian fans will watch the Grand Prix early on Monday, November 9, with a 3am AEDT start in Sydney and Melbourne and 5am NZDT in Auckland.
- Marc Márquez arrives with his first opportunity to secure the 2026 MotoGP world championship, while Yamaha’s withdrawal has reduced the expected field.
MotoGP returns to Lusail International Circuit for the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix on November 6–8, with the main race beginning at 4pm GMT on Sunday in the United Kingdom, 9:30pm IST in India and 3am AEDT on Monday in Sydney and Melbourne. The event remains scheduled despite the controversy surrounding regional security, with championship leader Marc Márquez seeking to clinch the world title before the final two rounds.
The weekend includes Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and an 11-lap sprint, followed by Sunday’s 22-lap Grand Prix under the floodlights.
What time is the Qatar MotoGP race in the UK, India, Australia and New Zealand?
The Grand Prix begins at 7pm local time in Qatar, which operates on UTC+3 throughout the year.
| Country / City | Race date | Local start time |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom — London | Sunday, Nov 8 | 4:00pm GMT |
| Ireland — Dublin | Sunday, Nov 8 | 4:00pm GMT |
| India — New Delhi / Mumbai | Sunday, Nov 8 | 9:30pm IST |
| Australia — Sydney / Melbourne | Monday, Nov 9 | 3:00am AEDT |
| Australia — Brisbane | Monday, Nov 9 | 2:00am AEST |
| Australia — Adelaide | Monday, Nov 9 | 2:30am ACDT |
| Australia — Perth | Monday, Nov 9 | 12:00am AWST |
| New Zealand — Auckland / Wellington | Monday, Nov 9 | 5:00am NZDT |
The difference in dates is important for Australian and New Zealand viewers, as the main race takes place after midnight locally.
Qatar MotoGP 2026 — Full weekend schedule
| Session | UK (GMT) | India (IST) | Sydney (AEDT) | Auckland (NZDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Nov 6 — FP1 | 11:45am Fri | 5:15pm Fri | 10:45pm Fri | 12:45am Sat |
| Friday, Nov 6 — Practice | 4:00pm Fri | 9:30pm Fri | 3:00am Sat | 5:00am Sat |
| Saturday, Nov 7 — FP2 | 11:00am Sat | 4:30pm Sat | 10:00pm Sat | 12:00am Sun |
| Saturday, Nov 7 — Q1 | 11:40am Sat | 5:10pm Sat | 10:40pm Sat | 12:40am Sun |
| Saturday, Nov 7 — Q2 | 12:05pm Sat | 5:35pm Sat | 11:05pm Sat | 1:05am Sun |
| Saturday, Nov 7 — Sprint | 4:00pm Sat | 9:30pm Sat | 3:00am Sun | 5:00am Sun |
| Sunday, Nov 8 — Race | 4:00pm Sun | 9:30pm Sun | 3:00am Mon | 5:00am Mon |
All times are converted from the published Qatar MotoGP timetable. Session times remain subject to official changes.
Where can fans watch the Qatar MotoGP?
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, MotoGP is available through TNT Sports, with streaming access through eligible HBO Max packages.
Indian viewers can use MotoGP’s official VideoPass service, subject to local availability and subscription requirements. Other local broadcast arrangements should be checked against current listings.
In Australia, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports carry MotoGP coverage, while New Zealand viewers can follow the championship through the locally available rights-holder services or MotoGP VideoPass.
The official VideoPass service offers live sessions and replays in supported territories.
Márquez could secure the world championship in Qatar
Marc Márquez arrives at Lusail with a 44-point lead over Jorge Martín following his victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The Ducati rider needs to extend his championship advantage to at least 74 points by the end of the weekend to secure the title before the final two rounds, subject to the relevant championship countback scenarios.
Martín is recovering from a wrist injury sustained in Australia and missed the Malaysian Grand Prix, while Marco Bezzecchi remains another mathematical contender.
The complete title permutations explain what Márquez needs in Qatar.
The championship fight could also be affected by the number of riders available to compete.
Qatar grid reduced as Yamaha withdraws
Yamaha has withdrawn both its factory team and Pramac operation because of company-wide travel restrictions linked to the security situation in the Middle East.
Álex Márquez will also miss the weekend, while other riders face medical assessments and possible substitutions.
The latest Qatar grid report explains the confirmed absences and outstanding uncertainties.
MotoGP continues to maintain that the Grand Prix will proceed, with Ducati, Aprilia, KTM and Honda indicating their intention to participate.
What is the Lusail circuit like?
Lusail International Circuit measures 5.380km and features 16 corners, comprising ten right-handers and six left-handers.
Its 1.068km main straight creates one of the most important overtaking opportunities, while the flowing corners demand strong front-end confidence and careful tyre management.
The Grand Prix is scheduled for 22 laps, covering 118.36km.
With the sprint taking place over 11 laps, both races offer opportunities to gain championship points.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its MotoGP section.
