Kuala Lumpur emerges as favourite to host 2026 MotoGP season launch

Kuala Lumpur has emerged as the frontrunner to host the 2026 MotoGP season launch, a format first introduced ahead of the 2025 season in Bangkok, Motorsport.com has learned.

While Dorna is yet to announce its final decision, Motorsport.com understands that the Malaysian capital city currently enjoys the broadest support.

Another option under consideration has been Melbourne, but various factors make its selection more complicated.

Dorna started its season launch presentation in Thailand’s capital this year, with the aim of boosting the championship’s popularity and potentially selling the concept to other destinations.

On that occasion, almost the entire grid – with the notable absence of world champion Jorge Martin who was injured just days earlier – posed for the official photo in front of a temple.

Later, at one of Bangkok’s largest shopping centres One Plaza, MotoGP hosted an event where riders mingled with fans, paraded on road bikes, and fired up their MotoGP prototypes.

For the second edition, Kuala Lumpur’s advantages include logistical convenience and local expertise, given that the city regularly hosts team launches and maintains close ties with MotoGP.

This year alone, Yamaha unveiled its new project – including the factory team, new satellite outfit Pramac and the overhaul to its MotoGP division – at the Petronas Towers.

The date for the season launch, as well as the schedule for pre-season testing, are yet to be finalised. Motorsport.com understands that teams are due to meet this Thursday at the Spielberg circuit for an IRTA meeting to outline the winter testing programme.

But there is little room to manoeuvre given the congested 2026 MotoGP calendar. Based on recent years, the first round of testing is expected to take place in Sepang in Kuala Lumpur, in early February, right after the shakedown test.

The second test would follow a few days later at the Buriram circuit, which will also host the season opener on the first weekend of March.

However, much will depend on how the instability in the area evolves, following a recent border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

A separate conflict between the people of Buriram and the Thai government has sparked several protests, triggered by the overturning of 995 land titles from local landowners covering an area of just over 8 million square metres, including the grounds of the Chang International Circuit which hosts the Thai GP.