MotoGP™
Joan Mir
Spain. Races for Honda HRC Castrol. His replica F-17 is in the shop.
Grand Prix racing
MotoGP™ explained
The fastest racing on two wheels, in plain English: how a race weekend works, how the points add up, who is winning right now and what changes next year. Whether this is your first Grand Prix or your thirtieth.
- 368.6 km/hTop speed record
- 22Grands Prix in 2026
- 37Most points in a weekend
New to MotoGP™
How a race weekend works
Every Grand Prix is a three-day event. Friday is for learning the track, Saturday decides the starting grid and a short Sprint race, and Sunday is the main event.
Friday Learn the track
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Free Practice 1
45 minThe first look at the track. Teams try tyres and settings while riders learn where the grip is and how the surface has changed since last year.
Why it matters Nothing here counts for the grid, but a rider who is quick early has more time to fine-tune the bike.
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Practice
60 minThe timed session. Everyone pushes for a fast lap, and the ten fastest across the hour go straight into Qualifying 2.
Why it matters Finishing in the top ten on Friday saves a rider from having to fight through Qualifying 1.
Saturday Earn your grid slot
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Free Practice 2
30 minA last tuning session before qualifying. Teams finish their set-up and many riders run a few laps on a worn tyre to see how the bike will behave late in a race.
Why it matters This is where a team finds out whether Sunday looks like a good day or a hard one.
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Qualifying 1
15 minEveryone who missed the Friday top ten races the clock for two places in Qualifying 2.
Why it matters A rider can start from the front by getting through Q1, but it costs energy and tyres.
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Qualifying 2
15 minTwelve riders chase one perfect lap. The fastest takes pole position, and the order sets the grid for both the Sprint and the Grand Prix.
Why it matters Starting up front means a clear view of the first corner, which is where many races are won or lost.
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Sprint
About half the race distanceA short, flat-out race on Saturday afternoon. It runs about half the distance of Sunday's Grand Prix and pays about half the points, to the top nine.
Why it matters With no time to nurse the tyres, riders go hard from the first lap, so the Sprint is often full of overtakes.
Sunday Race day
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Warm-up
ShortA brief run on Sunday morning to check the bike one last time after the overnight changes.
Why it matters Riders use it to confirm the set-up and make a final tyre decision.
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Grand Prix
40 to 45 minThe main race, roughly 100 to 130 km depending on the track. The winner scores 25 points, and the top fifteen all score.
Why it matters Tyre life, fuel and nerves all matter here. The race is long enough that patience can beat raw speed.
How the grid is set
- Friday practiceThe ten fastest riders in the timed session go straight to Qualifying 2.
- Qualifying 1Everyone else races the clock for 15 minutes.
- Two more get throughThe two fastest in Q1 join the top ten, so twelve riders reach Q2.
- Q2 sets the gridThe fastest lap takes pole. That grid is used for the Sprint and the Grand Prix.
How the points work
Points are awarded in both races. The Sprint pays about half as much as Sunday's Grand Prix, so a perfect weekend is worth 37 points. The rider with the most points at the end of the season is world champion.
| Finish | Grand Prix | Sprint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 12 |
| 2 | 20 | 9 |
| 3 | 16 | 7 |
| 4 | 13 | 6 |
| 5 | 11 | 5 |
| 6 | 10 | 4 |
| 7 | 9 | 3 |
| 8 | 8 | 2 |
| 9 | 7 | 1 |
| 10 | 6 | – |
| 11 | 5 | – |
| 12 | 4 | – |
| 13 | 3 | – |
| 14 | 2 | – |
| 15 | 1 | – |
The ladder
Three classes, one dream
Almost every MotoGP™ rider climbed the same three steps. All three classes race on the same weekends, at the same tracks.
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Moto3™
250cc single-cylinder
The first rung. Small, light bikes and big packs of riders slipstreaming each other, so races are often settled on the last lap.
Kabuto riders here
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Moto2™
765cc three-cylinder Triumph
Every team uses the same Triumph engine, so the difference comes from the chassis, the set-up and the rider. It is the last proving ground before the premier class.
Kabuto riders here
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MotoGP™
Up to 1,000cc prototype
The top class. Purpose-built prototypes with carbon brakes, wings and electronics, and the fastest lap times on the calendar.
- 368.6 km/hTop speed record
- 157 kgMinimum weight
- 22Grands Prix
Kabuto riders here
The season
2026 race calendar
22 Grands Prix on five continents. The dates show the whole weekend, Friday to Sunday; the main race is on the Sunday.
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Round 1: PT Grand Prix of Thailand
Chang International Circuit · Thailand
Season opener
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Round 2: Grand Prix of Brazil
Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna · Brazil
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Round 3: Red Bull Grand Prix of the United States
Circuit of the Americas · USA
The only round in the United States
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Round 4: Grand Prix of Spain
Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto · Spain
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Round 5: Grand Prix of France
Bugatti Circuit · France
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Round 6: Grand Prix of Catalunya
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya · Spain
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Round 7: Grand Prix of Italy
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello · Italy
Where the 368.6 km/h speed record was set
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Round 8: Grand Prix of Hungary
Balaton Park Circuit · Hungary
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Round 9: Grand Prix of Czechia
Brno Circuit · Czech Republic
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Round 10: Grand Prix of the Netherlands
TT Circuit Assen · Netherlands
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Round 11: Grand Prix of Germany
Sachsenring · Germany
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Round 12: Grand Prix of Great Britain
Silverstone Circuit · UK
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Round 13: Grand Prix of Aragon
MotorLand Aragón · Spain
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Round 14: Grand Prix of San Marino and Rimini Riviera
Misano World Circuit · Italy
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Round 15: Grand Prix of Austria
Red Bull Ring · Austria
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Round 16: Grand Prix of Japan
Mobility Resort Motegi · Japan
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Round 17: Grand Prix of Indonesia
Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit · Indonesia
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Round 18: Grand Prix of Australia
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit · Australia
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Round 19: Grand Prix of Malaysia
Petronas Sepang International Circuit · Malaysia
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Round 20: Grand Prix of Qatar
Lusail International Circuit · Qatar
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Round 21: Grand Prix of Portugal
Algarve International Circuit · Portugal
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Round 22: Grand Prix of Valencia
Circuit Ricardo Tormo · Spain
Season finale
Dates are the published race weekends and can change. Session times depend on your time zone, so check the official site before you plan. Official calendar (opens in a new tab)
For the fans
The 2026 picture
A year of change: Yamaha switched to a V4, and the riders' title is a two-way fight between Jorge Martín on an Aprilia and Marc Márquez on a Ducati.
Riders' championship
After the Japanese Grand Prix Sprint, 3 October 2026
| Pos | Rider | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jorge MartínAprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | 313 |
| 2 | Marc MárquezDucati Lenovo (GP26) | 306 |
| 3 | Marco BezzecchiAprilia Racing (RS-GP26) | 268 |
| 4 | Pedro AcostaRed Bull KTM (RC16) | 234 |
| 5 | Fabio Di GiannantonioPertamina Enduro VR46 Ducati (GP26) | 230 |
| 6 | Ai OguraTrackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | 227 |
| 7 | Raúl FernándezTrackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP26) | 205 |
| 8 | Álex MárquezBK8 Gresini Ducati (GP26) | 158 |
| 9 | Francesco BagnaiaDucati Lenovo (GP26) | 156 |
| 10 | Fermín AldeguerBK8 Gresini Ducati (GP25) | 115 |
Updated by hand after each round, so it can trail the live table. Official standings (opens in a new tab)
Who races what
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Aprilia
Holds the all-time top speed record: 368.6 km/h, set by Jorge Martín at Mugello in 2026.
Factory team: Marco Bezzecchi, Jorge Martín. Trackhouse: Raúl Fernández, Ai Ogura.
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Ducati
Marc Márquez won the 2025 world title on a Ducati.
Ducati Lenovo: Francesco Bagnaia, Marc Márquez. Gresini: Álex Márquez, Fermín Aldeguer. VR46: Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Di Giannantonio.
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KTM
Austrian factory with a satellite team run by Tech3.
Factory: Brad Binder, Pedro Acosta. Tech3: Maverick Viñales, Enea Bastianini.
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Honda
Kabuto's riders Joan Mir (racing) and Aleix Espargaró (test rider) are part of the Honda effort.
Honda HRC Castrol: Luca Marini, Joan Mir. LCR: Johann Zarco, Diogo Moreira.
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Yamaha
Debuting a V4 engine in 2026 in place of its long-running inline-four.
Factory: Fabio Quartararo, Álex Rins. Pramac: Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Jack Miller.
Field guide
Speak MotoGP™
The flags marshals wave and the words commentators use, so the broadcast makes sense from the first lap.
The flags
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Yellow
Danger on or beside the track. Riders slow down and cannot overtake in that section.
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Red
The session is stopped. Riders slow down and return to the pit lane.
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White
Rain has started. Riders may come in to swap to a bike set up for the wet.
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Green
The danger has passed and the track is clear again.
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Black
A rider is excluded and must return to the pits straight away.
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Black with a disc
A technical problem with that rider's bike. They must come into the pits.
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Chequered
The session or race is over.
Glossary
- Aero wings
- The fins on the bodywork that press the bike down at speed. They help keep the front wheel on the ground under hard acceleration.
- Apex
- The point in a corner where the rider is closest to the inside edge. Hitting it right sets up a fast exit.
- Factory team
- A team run or backed directly by the manufacturer, normally with the newest bike and parts.
- Flag-to-flag
- A race that starts dry and turns wet, or the other way round. Riders come in and swap to a second bike with different tyres.
- Grand Prix
- Both the name of a race weekend and the main Sunday race itself.
- Grid
- The starting order, set by qualifying. Riders line up in rows of three.
- Highside
- A crash where the rear tyre suddenly grips after sliding and throws the rider over the top of the bike. Often the most violent kind.
- Independent team
- A team that runs a manufacturer's bikes without being the factory's own squad. Also called a satellite team.
- Lean angle
- How far the bike tilts in a corner. MotoGP™ riders reach about 60 degrees and more.
- Long lap penalty
- A penalty served during a race by taking a longer path through a marked part of the track. It costs about three seconds.
- Lowside
- A crash where the tyres lose grip and the bike slides away from under the rider, who slides along the track.
- Marshal
- The trackside volunteers who wave the flags and help riders after a crash.
- Pole position
- First place on the grid, earned by setting the fastest lap in qualifying.
- Podium
- The top three finishers in a race.
- Prototype
- A bike built only for racing, not based on a model you can buy.
- Q1 and Q2
- The two 15-minute qualifying sessions on Saturday morning. Q2 decides the front of the grid.
- Ride-height device
- A system that lowers the rear of the bike to help it launch and keep the front wheel down. Banned from 2027.
- Rookie
- A rider in their first season in the class.
- Slick tyre
- A tyre with no tread, used on a dry track. Riders choose between soft, medium and hard.
- Slipstream
- Riding in the pocket of air behind another rider. It reduces drag and gives extra speed, which is why riders follow each other on the straights.
- Sprint double
- Winning both the Sprint and the Grand Prix in the same weekend.
- Test rider
- A rider who develops the bike for the manufacturer and races only occasionally.
- Tyre pressure rule
- There is a minimum tyre pressure. Riders who run below it for too much of a race are penalised.
- Wildcard
- A one-off entry for a single race, often a test rider.
No match. Try a shorter word.
In the paddock
Kabuto in MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™
Kabuto riders race and test across all three Grand Prix classes. Meet them and shop the MotoGP™ replica helmets.
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MotoGP™
Aleix Espargaró
Spain. Honda test rider. Three replica F-17 designs carry his name.
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MotoGP™
Michele Pirro
Italy. Ducati test rider. His replica F-17 is in the shop.
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Built for the grid
MotoGP™ is the toughest test a helmet can get. The F-17 GP Mips® is Kabuto's racing helmet, and these are the reasons riders trust it.
Homologated for racing
The FIM tests racing helmets against its own standard, FRHPhe-02. Every F-17 GP Mips® is FIM homologated.
Mips® built in
Mips® is designed to help redirect rotational motion in an angled impact, the kind a rider takes in a typical crash.
Stable at speed
Aerodynamic details such as the Wake Stabilizer are there to keep the helmet steady in the airflow.
Clear in every condition
A Pinlock® 120XLT anti-fog insert helps keep the visor clear when the weather turns.
Race the way they do
Rider replica helmets
The F-17 GP Mips® with the liveries of Kabuto's racers.
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$915.95What is MotoGP™?
MotoGP™ is the premier class of motorcycle Grand Prix racing, the world championship that began in 1949. Riders race purpose-built prototype bikes of up to 1,000cc around the world over 22 Grands Prix a year. Moto2™ and Moto3™ are the support classes that run on the same weekends.
How does a MotoGP™ race weekend work?
Friday has two practice sessions. Saturday has another practice, qualifying and a short Sprint race. Sunday has a warm-up and the main Grand Prix. Qualifying sets the grid for both races. The full breakdown is above.
How are points scored?
In the Grand Prix the winner scores 25 points, then 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 down to fifteenth. In the Sprint the top nine score, with 12 for the winner. The most a rider can score in one weekend is 37.
What is a Sprint race?
A shorter race held on Saturday afternoon at roughly half the distance of the Sunday Grand Prix. It pays about half the points and uses the same grid from qualifying.
How fast do MotoGP™ bikes go?
The all-time top speed record is 368.6 km/h (229 mph), set by Jorge Martín on an Aprilia at Mugello in 2026. Riders lean the bike about 60 degrees in corners.
What is the difference between MotoGP™ and World Superbike?
MotoGP™ bikes are prototypes built only for racing. World Superbike bikes are based on production motorcycles you can buy, so the two championships have different machines, rules and calendars.
What changes in 2027?
The bikes move from 1000cc to 850cc engines, Pirelli replaces Michelin as the tyre supplier, ride-height devices are banned and the aerodynamics are reduced. The aim is lower top speeds and closer racing.
Where can I watch MotoGP™ in the United States?
Broadcasters change from season to season, so check the official list at motogp.com/en/broadcasters. MotoGP™'s own streaming service, VideoPass, is also available in many countries.
Which Kabuto riders race in MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™?
Joan Mir races for Honda HRC Castrol. Aleix Espargaró is a Honda test rider and Michele Pirro is a Ducati test rider. In Moto2™, Collin Veijer and Jorge Navarro race in Kabuto, and in Moto3™ it is Valentin Perrone. Kabuto also supports riders in World Superbike.
Is the F-17 GP Mips® the helmet Kabuto's riders wear?
The F-17 GP Mips® is Kabuto's FIM homologated racing helmet, and the replica helmets in the shop carry the riders' liveries. Every F-17 GP Mips® is FIM homologated and has Mips® built in.
Ready to ride
Race-bred, ready for the street
Every F-17 GP Mips® is FIM homologated, with Mips® built in and a Pinlock® insert in the box.