News Summary
- The next MotoGP race is the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at Phillip Island.
- The weekend runs from Friday, October 23, to Sunday, October 25, with qualifying and the sprint taking place on Saturday.
- Jorge Martín leads Marc Márquez by only two points, following the Indonesian GP, where Aprilia swept the top four positions.
The 2026 MotoGP World Championship returns on October 23–25 for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, following a dramatic Indonesian Grand Prix in which Marco Bezzecchi led an Aprilia sweep of the top four and Jorge Martín regained the championship lead.
The main race takes place on Sunday, October 25, with Practice scheduled for Friday and qualifying and the sprint on Saturday, October 24. Phillip Island will host the 18th round of the 2026 championship, with five rounds remaining in the season after Indonesia.
Martín arrives in Australia with 355 points, just two ahead of Marc Márquez on 353, after the championship lead changed hands for the eighth time this year.
When is the next MotoGP race?
The next round is the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria.
| Session | Date |
|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 and Practice | Friday, October 23 |
| Free Practice 2 and qualifying | Saturday, October 24 |
| MotoGP sprint | Saturday, October 24 |
| Australian MotoGP Grand Prix | Sunday, October 25 |
The exact session start times should be checked against the final official timetable before publication. The Australian Grand Prix takes place in the AEDT time zone, which is ahead of the UK, Europe and the Americas.
The main MotoGP race is scheduled for 27 laps, covering approximately 120.1km of the Phillip Island circuit.
Martín and Márquez arrive separated by two points
The championship battle remains exceptionally close after Mandalika.
Márquez briefly moved into the lead by winning Saturday’s Indonesian sprint, but Martín reversed the situation by finishing third in Sunday’s Grand Prix, while the Ducati rider managed only sixth.
The six-point swing gave Martín a 355–353 advantage heading into Australia.
Bezzecchi also strengthened his position in third place with 309 points, reducing his deficit to Martín to 46.
GRANDE PRÊMIO has published the complete Riders’, Teams’ and Constructors’ standings after Indonesia.
Aprilia heads to Phillip Island after historic Mandalika result
Aprilia arrives at the Australian Grand Prix following one of the strongest performances in its MotoGP history.
Bezzecchi won at Mandalika ahead of Raúl Fernández, Martín and Ai Ogura, giving the manufacturer its first-ever sweep of the first four positions in the premier class.
The result also moved Aprilia ahead of Ducati in the Constructors’ Championship, with 503 points against 491.
GRANDE PRÊMIO reported Bezzecchi’s Indonesian GP victory and Aprilia’s historic result.
Phillip Island presents a different challenge, with its fast, flowing corners and exposed coastal location. The circuit’s layout and changing weather conditions can influence tyre management and race strategy.
Where can you follow the Australian MotoGP?
Broadcast and streaming availability varies by territory. Viewers should consult their local MotoGP rights holder or the official MotoGP VideoPass service, where available, for live coverage.
GRANDE PRÊMIO will follow the Australian Grand Prix through its MotoGP coverage, with qualifying, sprint and race results throughout the weekend.
