The 2026 MotoGP™ World Championship kicked off in spectacular style at the Chang International Circuit, Buriram, where a record number of Thai fans created an electric atmosphere for the opening round of the season.
Under extreme heat on Sunday, the premier class lined up for the first Grand Prix of the year, ready to take on 26 demanding laps in front of over 91,000 attendees.
Grand Prix of Thailand
Starting from 20th on the grid, Enea Bastianini faced an early setback, losing a position on the opening lap. By the fourth lap, however, the Italian had recovered to 18th and began building momentum.
By the eighth lap, Bastianini was already up to 16th, and a couple of decisive overtakes soon followed as he continued carving his way through the field. With three riders retiring ahead, the #23 rider capitalised fully, jumping up to 12th and firmly placing himself back in the fight after a challenging start to the weekend.
On the other side of the garage, Maverick Viñales held firm in 17th on the opening lap but then lost ground on the straight heading into the next, dropping the Spaniard further down the order.
Struggling for grip and rhythm in the early stages, Viñales found himself down in 21st. Gradually, Top Gun climbed the order as the Marquez brothers and Joan Mir left the action. Finally, a well-executed overtake later in the race secured 16th, just shy of the points, rewarding Viñales’ persistence despite a difficult race.
Next up on the calendar is the Grand Prix of Brazil at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna (20-22 March), as the 2026 campaign continues its global journey.
Enea Bastianini: "It was a difficult race, but we made a small step forward compared to the previous race. The feeling was similar to last year, even if the result was not as strong.
“In the final laps I was able to manage things quite well and gain some positions, which was encouraging. We’re still working on improving stability and overall feeling, but I’m confident we can make another step soon."
Maverick Viñales: "It was a challenging race for us. We’re missing some front grip, especially through the corners, which makes it difficult to be consistent and carry the speed we need. On the straight we’re competitive, but we’re not able to maximise the potential when it matters most.
“We tried different things across the weekend and now it’s about analysing the data to understand where we can improve and how to generate more feeling from the front. The potential is there, so we need to stay focused, respond well and come back stronger at the next round."
Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: "learly, this opening round in Thailand is a disappointment for Red Bull KTM Tech3. It’s not the result we were aiming for, and we have to take that honestly. Now it’s important that we sit down together, analyse what didn’t work as expected this weekend, and understand where we need to improve.
“We can see the potential of the package, which makes it even more important for us to find answers quickly. We have two weeks before Brazil, and our focus is to use that time constructively, come back stronger, and ensure we’re fighting where we belong."
RACE RESULTS
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA), Aprilia Racing, 39'36.270
2. Pedro Acosta (SPA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, +5.543
3. Raul Fernandez (SPA), Trackhouse MotoGP Team, +9.259
12. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, +23.386
16. Maverick Viñales (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, +36.545
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Pedro Acosta (SPA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 32pts
2. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA), Aprilia Racing, 25pts
3. Raul Fernandez (SPA), Trackhouse MotoGP Team, 23pts
13. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 4pts
18. Maverick Viñales (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 0pts
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2026 - M. Bezzecchi (ITA) - 1'28.526, 185.1 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2026 - M. Bezzecchi (ITA) - 1'30.487, 181.1 km/h
Best Pole: 2026 - M. Bezzecchi (ITA) - 1'28.652, 184.9 km/h
Top Speed: 2026 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 345.0 km/h
