The dates and locations for the MotoGP preseason tests are still open, as is the question of which city will host the official launch event
The calendar for the 2026 season was unveiled just over a month ago and includes 22 Grands Prix. But although the final third of the current season begins in Montmelo in two weeks’ time, the exact dates and locations for next year’s winter tests are still unconfirmed.
According to information from the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com, the delay is due to uncertainty about which city will host the presentation of the 2026 season—a format that was only introduced last year with its premiere in Bangkok.
Three candidates were considered from the outset: Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, and Singapore. The Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is the preferred option for most teams, mainly for logistical and cost-saving reasons.
If the event were to take place there, it would be extremely convenient, as pre-season testing is expected to begin in early February in Sepang, just a few kilometers outside the city, immediately after the traditional “shakedown” sessions.
If Kuala Lumpur is awarded the contract, a second round of testing could take place either in Thailand, where the season starts in early March, or again in Sepang. However, Melbourne is also considered an attractive, albeit more complex, option. In this case, the launch would probably take place between the two test dates.
To avoid the risks and logistical problems associated with transporting MotoGP equipment over such a long distance in a short period of time, the organizers could use show bikes instead of the real prototypes.
Singapore is another possibility for the launch event, offering the commercial and promotional appeal that promoter Dorna wants to highlight.
On the weekend of the Austrian Grand Prix, the MotoGP teams met with representatives of the IRTA (International Road Racing Teams Association), but no concrete plan was decided upon. According to information from Motorsport.com, the next decisive meeting will take place at the Catalan Grand Prix.
Dorna representatives are also expected to attend, and it is likely that the test locations and dates will be agreed upon. The season finale in Valencia will take place on November 16. Just a few hours later, the new season will begin with the first test.
