MotoGP Grand Prix Thailand: Session start times, schedule, how to watch and live stream in UK, as Marc Marquez starts title defence
Published 26/02/2026 at 08:53 GMT
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The 2026 MotoGP season starts with Grand Prix Thailand, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Marc Marquez is the defending champion after winning his seventh title last year, but will he win a record-equalling eighth? Brother Alex, team-mate Francesco Bagnaia, and former champion Jorge Martin may be his main rivals. Find out how to watch Grand Prix Thailand, with start times for all sessions.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
The start of the 2026 MotoGP season is fast approaching.
Grand Prix Thailand is the first of 22 races on the calendar, with all the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Marc Marquez is the defending champion and is aiming to win a record-equalling eighth MotoGP title this season.
But will his brother Alex, team-mate Francesco Bagnaia, or former champion Jorge Martin deny him?
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the season-opening race weekend, including start times for all the sessions and how to watch and live stream in the UK…
When is Grand Prix Thailand?
Action from Chang International Circuit starts with practice on Friday, February 27, followed by qualifying and the Sprint on February 28.
It will be lights out for the first Grand Prix race of the season on Sunday, March 1.
Marquez did the double at the 2025 Grand Prix Thailand, winning the Sprint and also Sunday's race.
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2025 world champion Marc Marquez wins MotoGP award
Video credit: TNT Sports
Grand Prix Thailand schedule and start times (All times UK)
Friday, February 27
- Free practice 1 - 03:45-04:30
- Practice - 08:00-09:00
Saturday, February 28
- Free practice 2 - 03:10-03:40
- Qualifying 1 - 03:50-04:05
- Qualifying 2 - 04:15-04:30
- Sprint - 08:00
Sunday, March 1
- Grand Prix - 08:00
How to watch Grand Prix Thailand
TNT Sports and discovery+ will be your home of MotoGP in the UK and Ireland in 2026.
Every race weekend will be available live and on-demand via TNT Sports and its streaming platform, discovery+.
Suzi Perry, Rachel Stringer and Natalie Quirk will host the action, while former riders Neil Hodgson, Michael Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli will be offering their expert views straight from the paddock.
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Hodgson will also be giving his thoughts on the action with a regular column on TNT Sports every Friday of race weeks.
In his first column, he predicts who could challenge Marquez and explains why there is worry for Toprak Razgatlioglu in his debut MotoGP season.
Gavin Emmett resumes his place in the commentary box, with Steve Day also calling the live action.
What is a MotoGP Sprint race?
Introduced at the start of the 2023 season, the Sprint race is half the number of laps as the Grand Prix and offers half the points.
The winner of a Grand Prix on a Sunday gets 25 points, with the winner of the Sprint earning 12 points. Second place in the Sprint gets nine points, third gets seven, going down to the last scoring position in ninth.
The Sprint does not have an impact on the grid positions for Sunday’s race. Those positions are decided by the two qualifying sessions on Saturday.
2025 world champion Marc Marquez wins MotoGP award
Video credit: TNT Sports
Are there any changes for the 2026 MotoGP season?
The biggest change to the rulebook for MotoGP in 2026 is a new rule preventing riders from restarting their bike in the run-off area if the engine has stopped after a crash. Instead, the restart must be done behind barriers.
The rule states: "After a crash or technical problem, non-running machines on track or in run-off areas will immediately be taken by the marshals behind the first line of protection where the marshals may assist the rider by lifting and/or holding the machine whilst repairs and/or adjustments are made.
"Any repairs or adjustments must be made behind the first line of protection, e.g. in the service road, by the rider working alone with no outside assistance except that given by the marshals.
"Marshals may assist the rider to push the machine in order for the rider to restart the machine in the service road. No machines may be push-started track side of the first line of protection. No person other than marshals or riders are permitted on the track side of the first line of protection."
There are significant changes coming to the sport in 2027. From the following season there will be a switch from 1000cc engines to 850cc engines, and tyres will change from Michelin to Pirelli.
A number of riders on the grid, including Marc and Alex Marquez, are out of contract at the end of the 2026 season.
Who are the riders for the 2026 MotoGP season?
The riders on the grid for 2026 are:
- Ducati Lenovo Team: Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia
- Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins
- Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder
- Honda HRC Castrol: Joan Mir, Luca Marini
- Aprilia Racing: Jorge Martin, Marco Bezzecchi
- Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: Fabio Di Giannantonio, Franco Morbidelli
- BK8 Gresini Racing: Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer
- Prima Pramac Yamaha: Toprak Razgatlioglu, Jack Miller
- Trackhouse Aprilia: Raul Fernandez, Ai Ogura
- CASTROL Honda LCR: Johann Zarco
- Pro Honda LCR: Diogo Moreira
- Red Bull KTM Tech3: Maverick Vinales, Enea Bastianini
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Stream every race of the 2026 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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