SportsPedia / Motorsport
MotoGP
Prototype motorcycles. World-class riders. A championship decided corner by corner. Understand the racing, then follow the teams and the next Grand Prix.
MotoGP at a glance
- Sport
- Motorcycle circuit racing
- Premier class
- MotoGP
- World Championship began
- 1949
- Modern MotoGP era
- From 2002
- 2026 motorcycles
- Up to 1000cc, four-stroke prototypes
- Standard race wins
- Grand Prix: 25 points / Sprint: 12
Start here
What is MotoGP?
MotoGP is the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Riders compete on purpose-built racing motorcycles at circuits around the world, collecting championship points across the season. A fast lap can win a place on the grid; a race demands speed, overtaking, tyre management and consistency over many laps.
The name also appears across the wider Grand Prix championship. Moto3 and Moto2 are separate racing classes, with different machinery and their own championships; they are part of the pathway towards the premier class. Their results are not combined with MotoGP points.
To follow your first race, watch the starting order, the gaps between riders and how their pace changes. A rider closing a gap may be preparing an overtake, while another may be managing grip for the final laps.
2026 format
How a race weekend works
Practice
Riders learn the circuit conditions and work on bike setup. The ten fastest in the timed Practice session advance directly to Q2.
Qualifying
The remaining riders contest Q1; its fastest two join Q2. Q2 decides the first 12 starting places. In 2026, qualifying sets the grid for both races, subject to penalties.
Sprint and Grand Prix
The standard weekend has a Saturday Sprint and Sunday Grand Prix. A Sprint runs for approximately half the main race distance and awards its own championship points.
How MotoGP points work
In a standard full-points Grand Prix, the first 15 classified finishers score. In a Sprint, the first nine score. Winning both earns a rider 37 points: 12 plus 25.
| Position | 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 riders’ championship adds points across the season. Team and constructor championships are separate competitions. This table shows the standard scale; interrupted or shortened races can require different treatment under the regulations.
What makes a MotoGP bike different?
A MotoGP motorcycle is a prototype built for racing, rather than a modified model you can buy for the road. Engine performance, braking, aerodynamics, electronics and tyres all influence how the rider can accelerate, turn and stop.
For the 2026 premier class, the engine limit is 1000cc. The announced 2027 technical rules reduce that maximum to 850cc. Those are different regulations, so the two capacities should not be treated as interchangeable.
WorldSBK is a separate championship using motorcycles based on production road models. Sharing manufacturers or riders does not make it the same competition as MotoGP.
Where MotoGP began
The FIM motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship began in 1949. The premier category was historically associated with 500cc racing, long before the modern MotoGP name and machinery.
The modern MotoGP era started in 2002 with the arrival of larger four-stroke machines in the premier class. The sport continued changing its technical rules over time, and Sprints became part of the MotoGP weekend in 2023. The championship’s 1949 origin and the 2002 MotoGP era describe different milestones.
Riders, teams and manufacturers
A rider races for a team, while a manufacturer develops the motorcycle. Factory teams and independent teams can use machinery from the same manufacturer. Follow the official season lists for line-ups and changes.
Riders
Explore the riders, their profiles and career results. Select the MotoGP class and intended season.
Open rider directory ↗Official directoryTeams
See how the current grid is organised and which riders race together.
Open team directory ↗Official scheduleGrands Prix
Find circuits, event schedules and the next race weekend.
Open the calendar ↗MotoGP key terms
- Grand Prix
- A championship event; the term also identifies its main race.
- Pole position
- The first starting position on the grid.
- Q1 / Q2
- The two qualifying sessions used in the 2026 MotoGP format.
- Racing line
- The path a rider takes through a corner or sequence of corners.
- Apex
- The point where a rider’s path comes closest to the inside of a corner.
- Highside / lowside
- Different crash types: a highside throws the rider over the bike; a lowside involves the bike sliding out beneath them.
Common questions
Is MotoGP the same as motorcycle road racing?
MotoGP is one specific championship and class within motorcycle racing. It races on circuits; it is not a competition on ordinary public roads.
Are Moto2 and Moto3 just smaller MotoGP races?
They are separate classes with their own technical rules, riders and championship standings. MotoGP is the premier category.
Does the Sprint replace the main race?
No. It is an additional race with its own points scale. The Grand Prix remains the longer race on a standard weekend.
Follow the racing
Start with the official calendar for the race and local session times. For TV coverage, check the official broadcaster directory for your country and confirm the exact event and subscription inclusions.
Sources and review
Reviewed 25 October 2026. This is an introduction to the 2026 premier-class format. Official event instructions and regulations govern individual decisions; the page does not provide live results.