PROVISIONAL TIME SCHEDULE

Review the original schedule for the 2026 MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar at the Lusail International Circuit.

Please note: This schedule was originally designed for April; as the race has been rescheduled to November, sessions and timings are subject to change.

General information about the MotoGP Grand Prix schedule

Since 2025, MotoGP has been using a new racing format including Saturday's sprint.

Friday

The weekend kicks off on Friday with the first on-track action, consisting of two practice sessions for each class. In MotoGP, these sessions are called Free Practice 1 and Practice. The results from the Practice session determine which riders advance directly to Q2 in the premier class, and which ones will have to compete in Q1. The ten fastest riders progress directly to Q2.

Saturday

MotoGP's Saturday schedule kicks off with a 30-minute Free Practice 2 session, followed by Qualifying. The outcomes of the Qualifying session determine the starting positions for both the MotoGP Sprint and the main race on Sunday.

In the afternoon/evening, the MotoGP Sprint race starts.

Race Format: The Sprint race is about half the distance of Sunday’s full race. For instance, if Sunday’s race is 24 laps, the Sprint will be 12 laps.

This shorter format ensures high-intensity racing from the start, as riders push hard for positions.

Points are awarded differently from the main race: the winner takes 12 points. Points awarded down to 1 point for the top nine finishers.

Sunday

Sunday's program starts with a 10-minute warm-up session for MotoGP riders to make final adjustments before the race. Approximately 4 hours later, the main race starts.