Pre-season testing is over, and now the 2026 MotoGP season begins in Buriram, Thailand. After weeks of preparation, all teams share one clear goal for the 22-race season – to win the Tower of Champions and make history.
Defending champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) returns as the main favorite after an incredible comeback season last year, where he secured the title with five races remaining. Buriram was the starting point of his success, and testing shows he is once again the rider to beat.
However, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) looks ready to challenge him. He was the fastest rider in Buriram testing and has shown strong pace throughout pre-season. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) has also been impressive and could push his brother hard this year.
Aprilia and Ducati appear to be the strongest factories going into the season. Francesco Bagnaia, a two-time champion, is aiming for a big comeback after a difficult 2025 season. Other Ducati riders like Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio also showed competitive speed in testing.
At KTM, Pedro Acosta hopes to fight at the front and chase his first MotoGP victory, while Brad Binder and Maverick Viñales are expected to be competitive as well. Viñales is aiming to win with a fourth different manufacturer.
Honda has made noticeable progress during the off-season, with Joan Mir, Luca Marini, and Johann Zarco showing improvement. Meanwhile, Yamaha begins a new era with a V4 engine. Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins are working to make the new package competitive, while rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu prepares for his MotoGP debut.
With many questions still unanswered, all eyes are now on the season-opening Thai Grand Prix as the real action finally begins.