(October 30, Knoxville, Tennessee) – The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) 2027 National Roadracing series presented by VIB-ISO will unfold over 10 weekends at a variety of racetracks throughout the United States.
“AHRMA is ready to hit the gas in 2027 with a schedule that delivers a fantastic mix of iconic venues from coast to coast. While many of our favorite annual stops return, I’m especially excited to see AHRMA heading back to Inde Motorsports Ranch and making long-awaited returns to Thunderhill Raceway and West Desert, formerly Utah Motorsports Campus. These additions bring even more variety to an already strong lineup, creating a well-rounded season that racers and fans alike are going to love,” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director.
The season kicks off on February 11 with an AHRMA-run track day open to members of all organizations at Roebling Road Raceway and moves into the race weekend from February 12-14, in Bloomingdale, GA and will conclude the weekend of October 7, during the 22nd Annual Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, AL.
This season includes a western back-to-back with a weekend at Thunderhill Raceway, CA, followed by West Desert Raceway, UT.
Mark your calendar now for some of the world’s best classic motorcycle racing events with AHRMA.
2027 AHRMA National Roadracing Series Schedule*
2/11-14 Roebling Road Raceway; Bloomingdale, GA
3/26-28 Carolina Motorsports Park; Kershaw, SC
4/23-25 Inde Motorsports Ranch, Willcox AZ
5/21-23 Nelson Ledges Road Course; Garrettsville, OH
6/11-6/13 Autobahn, Joliet, IL (dates pending)
6/25-27 New Jersey Motorsports Park; Millville, NJ
7/30-8/1 Blackhawk Farms Raceway; South Beloit, IL
8/27-29 Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA
9/3-5 West Desert Raceway, Grantsville, UT
10/8-11 Barber Motorsports Park; Birmingham, AL**
*Preliminary Schedule as of 10/30/2026, subject to change
**The Barber Vintage Festival event is a no refund event. All road racers MUST BE FULL Members (no weekend memberships are available)
“I’m super excited about the 2027 AHRMA Road Racing schedule. We’ve got a terrific mix of venues that promise our racers a diverse and challenging season. Putting a schedule together is about more than selecting tracks, it’s about creating a great experience for our members and giving them something to look forward to all season long, Leasha has nailed it! Before you know it, February will be here, and we’ll be back on the grid. So, now’s the time to get those machines ready,” shared Greg “GT” Tomlinson, AHRMA Chairman of the Board.
The AHRMA Academy of Roadracing (AAR) and the Sidecar Racing School (SRS) will be held on Friday of most events except the Barber Vintage Festival. Pass the school on Friday and be eligible to race the weekend. Final school schedule will be announced at a later date.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With about 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Marc Marquez led MotoGP World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP26 on spec Michelin tires, the seven-time World Champion turned a lap time of 1:57.000 to lead the 21-rider field.
Alex Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:57.109 on his BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Ai Ogura was third at 1:57.167 on his SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26.
Pedro Acosta finished the session fourth with a 1:57.380 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.
Fabio Di Giannantonio got fifth on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26 with a time of 1:57.442.
Marco Bezzecchi was 6th on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 with a lap time of 1:57.475 and his injured teammate Jorge Martin got 21st with a time of 1:59.670.
Marc Marquez top in Sepang on Friday despite crash, Martin ends Practice early. Far from a smooth day of running for the defending World Champion but P1 nonetheless whereas arch-rival Martin called it a day early as he battles his broken wrist pain.
An early crash couldn’t throw Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) off course as the #93 made up for his final corner error to lead the MotoGP charge on Friday afternoon. He was able to pip brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) whilst a late lap from Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP) put the Dutch GP winner in third. Completing just three laps, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) ended Practice early and will have another go tomorrow in FP2.
FIRST ENCOUNTERS: Martin pulls in, Marc Marquez crashes
Before the session had even reached a third of the way to being done, the top two in the Championship were making headlines. Martin’s day was done after three laps and the decision was taken that the #89 will sit out the remainder of Practice, although he’ll hit the track tomorrow morning for FP2 to see how he is on Sprint Saturday. Should he take part for the rest of the weekend then the 2024 World Champion will find himself in Q1. Then, at Turn 15, Marc Marquez crashed, tucking the front and sliding through the gravel, although he was soon back on his feet.
BOUNCING BACK: the #93 asserts authority
Into the second half of the session and it was Di Giannantonio leading the way ahead of Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR). All of the fastest lap times were being set early on with riders opting for long runs in the first 40 minutes or so. After his fall, Marc Marquez was back out on track and provisionally P8 with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. However, not for long as the Championship leader blasted in a 1’57.000 to go top of the timesheets by nearly four tenths of a second.
CHANGES APLENTY: Ogura into the top 3, Zarco and Bagnaia fall
There were a whole load of changes in the top ten with just over ten minutes remaining with Acosta, Bezzecchi and Bastianini all moving into the top five whilst Ogura, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) also found improvements. Three minutes on the clock and Ogura continued to improve with a move up to P3 whilst the yellow flags were out at Turns 7 and 8 for a late fall for Zarco. Then, Turn 1 caught out double World Champion Bagnaia who tucked the front; the crashes confirmed both riders’ presence in Q1 tomorrow.
FRIDAY’S TOP 10: Q2 spots bagged
Nobody could get on terms with Marc Marquez though as the reigning World Champion led a Marquez 1-2 ahead of Alex in second and looked good not only on one lap but with race pace too. Ogura’s late improvement brought the Japanese to third by the end of play, ahead of Acosta and Di Giannantonio. Bezzecchi had a steady start to bag a Q2 spot in sixth ahead of a strong showing from Red Bull KTM Tech3 duo Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales, with three KTMs going directly into Q2 for the first time since Hungary last year. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and a returning Mir who was welcomed back with P10.
MISSING THE CUT: Bagnaia headlines, Martin back on track in FP2
Zarco’s crash late on cost him as he missed out by 0.187s, just 0.002s ahead of Pecco in 12th. Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) had a big front-end save at Turn 15 which cost him any improvement and thus finds himself in Q1, whilst the best Yamaha was Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) just behind him in P14. Martin sitting out the rest of the session after three laps leaves him in Q1 and he hopes that he can be competitive on Saturday.
Sprint Saturday commences from 09:00 local time (UTC +8); don’t miss a lap!
Manuel Gonzalez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) road course in 2:03.737, topping the field of 28 riders.
Alonso Lopez was second-best with a time of 2:03.881 on his ITALJET Gresini Kalex.
Daniel Holgado did a third-fastest 2:03.943 on his CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team Kalex.
Izan Guevara crossed the finish line fourth on his BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha boscoscuro with a lap time of 2:03.971 and Tony Arbolino got fifth on his REDS Fantic Racing Kalex with a time of 2:04.448.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 12th with a best time of 2:04.685 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Gonzalez collects Friday P1 as big hitters miss Q2 cut in Sepang. A crash in FP1 was backed up by an impressive Practice top spot display from the Moto2 title race leader in Malaysia, with title rival Guevara fourth fastest.
After a fast crash in Free Practice 1, World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) bounced back in style in the all-important Moto2 Practice session to top the timesheets on Friday at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. Gonzalez’s 2:03.737 was good enough to see off the Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) threat by 0.144s, with Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) completing the top three.
Holgado was another rider to crash this morning, but like Gonzalez, didn’t show any ill effects from the tip-off in the afternoon stint. Fourth place went to Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), who was the only other rider to get below 0.7s away from his title rival’s table-topping time. The exact gap between the title-chasing duo? 0.234s.
2022 Moto2 Malaysian GP winner Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing) rounded out the top five ahead of the rider third in the overall standings, Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – MSI). And it was double delight in the MSI box because Ortola’s teammate Angel Piqueras finished P7 to front the rookie charge in Moto2 Practice.
Some of the big headlines came further down the order, though. Two of our 2025 Moto2 Malaysian GP podium finishers, David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) and Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing), ended the session in P18 and P19 to face Q1, and they’ll be joined in Q1 by British GP winner Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) after the Czech star missed out on the top 14 because his second fastest lap was slower than Adrian Huertas’ (Italtrans Racing Team) – the duo both setting 2:04.735.
David Almansa led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Almansa used his Pirelli-shod Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM to lap the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) track in 2:11.427 to lead the field of 25 riders.
Rico Salmela was second-best with a time of 2:11.496 on his Red Bull KTM Tech 3 machine.
Veda Pratama, piloting his Honda Team Asia machine, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 2:11.519.
Home hero Hakim Danish was fourth on his AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI KTM with a lap time of 2:11.573 and Adrian Fernandez finished the practice session fifth on his Leopard Racing Honda with a time of 2:11.589.
Almansa soars to Sepang P1 on Friday, home star Danish fourth. It was business as usual on Friday for the rider currently P2 in the standings whilst the home crowd will be cheering on Danish’s strong start.
After a tricky start to the day, David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) paved his way to P1 to draw first blood in Moto3 in Malaysia. Aiming to consolidate P2 overall in the standings, the #22 set the fastest time of the day to head the field whilst the homecoming tour is well underway for Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) with the Malaysian fourth at the chequered flag.
A 2’11.427 saw the Spaniard clear by less than a tenth of a second from rookie star Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3), taking to Sepang for the first time. 0.069s split the top two whilst less than a tenth covered the top three with Phillip Island polesitter Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) continuing his form in third and taking top Honda honours. Danish was a star in fourth ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) whilst, like Almansa, Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA) turned around a tricky FP1 to round out the top six in Practice.
Heavyweight names are scattered further back with the likes of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P7, teammate Brian Uriarte in P9 and David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in P10. 2026 World Champion Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) was only 11th whereas big names missed the cut all together. US GP winner Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) will face the Q1 music in 15th, along with Argentinean pairing Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team).
The #25 won’t be taking part in the rest of the Malaysian GP as he continues to suffer with his fingers, broken in Lombok.
Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP team) put in a superhuman ride at the Indonesian GP to take a podium despite having fractured fingers, but the #25 was then forced to withdraw from the Australian GP as his recovery continues.
Arriving in Sepang for the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, Fernandez got the ok to take part in FP1 and headed out in the session. However, in a review thereafter he was declared officially unfit and is now sidelined from the event, instead focusing on making a full recovery.
Marc Marquez topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Michelin-shod Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:58.912 around the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) track and led the 22-rider field.
Marco Bezzecchi was second-best with a 1:59.386 on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26.
Pedro Acosta was third with a lap of 1:59.386 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.
Enea Bastianini finished the first session fourth on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16 with a time of 1:59.688.
Acosta’s teammate, Brad Binder got fifth with a time of 1:59.737.
Marc Marquez leads Bezzecchi and Acosta in FP1, injured Martin completes 12 laps. The championship leader heads into Practice 0.4s clear of the Aprilia and KTM stars, while the #89 finishes 1.8s off the pace in a promising start to the Malaysian GP.
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) enjoyed a perfect start to his PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia after the World Championship leader set the only 1:58 lap of the session to lead Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) by 0.474s. The duo set the exact same time to finish FP1 just under half a second away from the #93’s 1:58.912, but that wasn’t the biggest story of the opening session in Sepang.
The main focus? Jorge Martin’s (Aprilia Racing) progress. Team Manager Paolo Bonora explained the 2024 World Champion, “expected to feel worse”, with the plan being not to push too much and save energy for Practice later this afternoon. It’s early doors, of course, but that’s great news going into this afternoon for the rider just 10 points off Marc Marquez in the title chase. At the end of play in FP1, Martin completed 12 laps and sits 1.8s off the summit heading into this afternoon’s one-hour Practice stint, six days after suffering a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius. Incredible.
Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) handed KTM a great start to their weekend in Malaysia by sticking their RC16s inside the top five in P4 and P5, while it was Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and last year’s Malaysian GP winner, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who were the only other riders to get within a second of Marc Marquez’s FP1 pace.
Elsewhere, Raul Fernandez’s (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) weekend is over after the Spaniard was declared unfit after a review during FP1. Fernandez will now head back to Spain for some thorough treatment in order to try to be fit for the upcoming Qatar GP.
Izan Guevara was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Pirelli-shod BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha boscoscuro on the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 2:04.005 to lead the field of 28 riders.
David Alonso was the best of the rest with a 2:04.568 on his CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team Kalex and his teammate Daniel Holgado got third with exactly the same lap time of 2:04.568.
American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in fourth with a 2:04.758 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Collin Veijer got fifth with a time of 2:04.800.
Alvaro Carpe was quickest during Moto3 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) road course in 2:11.585, topping the field of 25 riders.
Maximo Quiles was the best of the rest with a 2:11.714 on his CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team KTM and his teammate Marco Morelli was third with a lap time of 2:11.720.
Veda Pratama got fourth with a lap time of 2:11.819 on his Honda Team Asia machine and home hero Hakim Danish was fifth with a time of 2:11.834 on his AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI KTM.
The biennial FIM Intercontinental Games (ICG) returns this season for its second edition, with the 2026 Goiás FIM Intercontinental Games scheduled for 11–13 December at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiânia, Brazil.
The prestigious event will bring together teams from the six FIM Continental Unions (CONUs) – Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania – to compete across circuit racing and motocross. Each CONU will field twelve riders, split evenly between Supersport (SSP), Supersport 300 (SSP300) and MX2. The two circuit racing classes featured at the inaugural ICG at Jerez, Spain, in 2024, while MX2 joins the programme for 2026, extending the competition to off-road racing.
Each CONU may select one ‘specialist’ rider with a permanent place in an FIM World Championshipin 2026. Teams must also include at least one female rider per category, who may likewise be a permanent FIM World Championship rider this season. All other selected riders must be considered ‘rising talents’ and must not have competed in an FIM World Championship as permanent riders during 2026.
Yamaha will provide machinery for both circuit racing classes, with a fleet of YZF-R7 and YZF-R3 models available. Motocross competitors will race on locally supplied motorcycles, according to each rider’s requested brand and model and in compliance with FIM regulations.
In the run-up to the event, we will take a closer look at each CONU’s selection. This week, FIM North America takes the spotlight.
FIM North America’s efforts in Brazil will be overseen by Circuit Racing Team Manager Michael Martin who returns to his 2024 role alongside Steve Westfall who is the Motocross Team Manager.
Kensei Matsudaira at San Juan Villicum. Photo courtesy of Kensei Matsudaira.
Captaining the team’s SSP300 riders, Kensei Matsudaira only turned sixteen in October, but the Californian already has a wealth of experience across a variety of disciplines including Flat Track, SuperMoto and Speedway. A multi-time champion in the MotoAmerica Mini Cup, he finished a close second in both the MotoAmerica Talent Cup and the FIM Moto4 Latin Cup this season.
Ella Dreher on her MP13 Racing/One Cure Racing MotoAmerica MV Agusta Supersport racebike. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
He is joined by Ella Dreher in an SSP300 squad that is filled with young, talented riders. A fighting fifth in the 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup, the sixteen-year-old Floridian represented Melissa Paris’ team in the first three rounds of the 2026 MotoAmerica Supersport championship before a crash in May sidelined her, although she returned for the final two rounds and will be fighting fit for the ICG.
Avery Dreher (on the left) and Hayden Schults (on the right) at the 2024 FIM Intercontinental Games. Photo by Gpagency / courtesy FIM.
The team’s third SSP300 rider is sixteen-year-old Hank Vossberg who has dominated the 2026 MotoAmerica Twins Cup, claiming eight race wins on his way to the national title. Last season the rider from Minnesota placed third overall – with three race wins – in the 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup series and also made appearances in the Twins Cup on his way to fourth overall.
Hank Vossberg (31). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Completing FIM North America’s all-teenaged line-up in the SSP300 category, sixteen-year-old Texan Michael ‘Mikey Lou’ Sanchez was eighteenth in this year’s FIM Moto4 European Cup. A former champion in the 110cc and 160cc classes of the MotoAmerica Mini Cup, he has had a base in Europe in recent seasons.
Mikey Lou Sanchez at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Texas Motorcycle Academy.
FIM North America’s effort in the SSP category is Captained by twenty-year-old Californian Max Toth. Another rider who competed in Jerez in 2024, Toth was fourth in the opening SSP300 race two years ago before his early exit from race two. A MotoAmerica Junior Cup race winner and Twins Cup podium finisher, Toth competed in the 2024 FIM Europe Moto2 European Championship and after injury marred his 2025 season he bounced back this year, racing in selected rounds of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup and the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series and finished twenty-second in the FIM JuniorGP Moto2 World Championship.
Max Toth (27) at Magny-Cours, in France. Photo courtesy Cardoso Racing Team.
Toth is joined on the SSP team by eighteen-year-old Maryland racer Matthew Chapin who achieved SSP300 finishes of seventh and twelfth at Jerez in 2024. This season he has continued to show his huge promise and was just two points away from an overall podium finish in the seven-round MotoAmerica Twins Cup after finishing second on his series debut in 2025.
Matthew Chapin (95) at NJMP. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
A veteran of the 2024 ICG when she recorded a pair of thirteenth-placed finishes in the SSP class, thirty-two-year-old Mallory Dobbs from Washington State works as a civil engineer when she is not racing. A late convert to motorcycling having only learned to ride at the age of twenty-two, Dobbs raced at amateur level until making her MotoAmerica debut in 2022 and has competed in all three editions of the FIM WorldWCR series with end-of-season rankings of eleventh in 2024, fourteenth in 2025 and twenty-third this year.
Mallory Dobbs at 2024 FIM Intercontinental Games. Photo by Gpagency / courtesy FIM.
Completing the FIM North America SSP line-up, twenty-year-old Blake Davis was fifth in this season’s MotoAmerica Supersport championship after finishing third in 2024 and 2025. A two-time MotoAmerica Twins Cup champion, the Virginian – winner of the AMA Youth Road Racer of the Year award in 2018 and AMA Nicky Hayden Road Racing Horizon Award in 2019 – competed in the inaugural ICG when he recorded an eleventh in the second SSP race after retiring on the opening lap of race one.
Blake Davis (22) at NJMP. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Canadian Dylan Rempel is Captain of the MX2 squad and the nineteen-year-old from Ontario will be aiming to lead by example having already forged a hard-earned reputation for his determination and commitment. With experience of running near the front in both the AMA Pro Motocross Championship SMX Next and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship 250SX Futuresclasses, this season Rempel was crowned 250cc Pro Class champion in the national Canadian Triple Crown series.
Aged just seventeen and hailing from Colorado, Mayla Herrick had to wait until round three of the 2026 AMA Women’s Motocross Championship until she was old enough to compete and she immediately claimed a moto win before crashing out of the second race. Despite this she still finished the season ranked eighth with overall podiums at Unadilla and Ironman Raceway and she was the youngest member of the Team USA squad that won the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup in early 2026.
The third member of the MX2 team, twenty-four-year-old Preston Kilroy won the 250 Pro class of the national 2025 Triple Crown Series before graduating to the 450 Pro division this season where he finished fourth and claimed the overall win at the final round. The rider from Wyoming made his professional Motocross debut in 2020 and his professional Supercross debut two years later and has competed in both the 250 and 450 classes of the AMA Pro Motocross Nationals as well as the 2023 SuperMotocross World Championship.
Hailing from Manitoba in Canada, twenty-one-year-old Ryder McNabb is a two-time 250 Pro Canadian Motocross Champion who was tenth in this season’s 450 Pro class in the Triple Crown Series after finishing seventh in the 250 Pro class in 2025. Making his professional debut in the 250cc class in 2024, he has achieved three top-twenty finishes in the 250cc class of the AMA Pro Motocross Nationals and also has a top-twenty finish in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship 250SX Futures class on his racing résumé.
Rob Dingman, President of FIM North America, said: “The FIM Intercontinental Games brings the spirit of competition on two wheels under the international spotlight, and we are eager to showcase the collective talent of the riders from our continent. As we celebrate the second running of this event later this year, we anticipate a strong showing from our twelve riders in Brazil.”
Mike Pelletier, FIM North America Delegate, stated: “We have built a competitive team with a collection of skilled Circuit and Motocross riders that we feel very confident in for this year’s FIM Intercontinental Games. Team managers Michael Martin and Steve Westfall bring plenty of experience to their respective roles. I look forward to watching our team compete at this prestigious event, with a chance to bring international glory to North America.”
Michael Martin, FIM North America’s Circuit Racing Manager, commented: “I’m very honoured [to be Manager]. It’s a pleasure for me to do it and I certainly enjoy it. It’s been very rewarding so far and, hopefully, we’re going to go down there now that we have our feet underneath us and get a good result.”
Steve Westfall, FIM North America’s Motocross Manager, added: “To be asked to be a Team Manager for such a cool event is an honour. The fact that they considered me means a lot! The team is going to be great. Mike [Pelletier] and I went with what we thought would be the best team to win the FIM Intercontinental Games. Good luck to all the other CONUs competing in this event.”
MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 teams are heading to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia this weekend for Round 19 of the 2026 FIM MotoGP World Championship. From October 30 to November 1, the paddock returns to the 3.44-mile (5.54-kilometer) circuit as the overseas campaign enters its final round. Following Jorge Martin’s crash at Phillip Island and with Marco Bezzecchi now 50 points behind Marc Marquez, every point becomes crucial as the championship battles intensify. Below, find the latest team press releases ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Aprilia Racing ready for Malaysia challenge.
MotoGP’s flyaway tour continues in Malaysia, at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, for the nineteenth round of the season.
Jorge Martín will travel to Malaysia despite the non-displaced fracture of the distal radius he sustained during the sprint. The Spaniard is undergoing the prescribed treatment, and his fitness will be assessed over the coming days ahead of the Grand Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi heads to Sepang after taking fourth in the Phillip Island sprint. Sunday’s long race, however, was cancelled because poor visibility prevented the medical helicopter from operating.
The Petronas Sepang International Circuit, some 50 km from Kuala Lumpur, is one of the world championship’s historic venues. At 5,540 metres, it is the second-longest circuit in the championship, with 15 corners: 10 right-handers and five left-handers. It is known for its demanding braking zones, particularly the first and the last, with hard deceleration and a difference of more than 200 km/h between entry and exit speed.
Jorge Martin. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Jorge Martin:I’m getting the treatment I need to recover from the injury and arrive at Sepang in the best possible shape. It’s impossible to make any predictions. We have to assess the situation day by day.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing.
Marco Bezzecchi:I can’t wait to get to Sepang, especially since we couldn’t race at Phillip Island. I’m happy to be going back to a track as fantastic as Sepang. Let’s hope the weather is kind to us and that we can carry on with the work we’re doing.
More, from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Mir set for Malaysian GP return alongside Marini.
After retiring from the San Marino GP and missing the four subsequent Grands Prix, Joan Mir is targeting a return to action in Sepang alongside Luce Marini.
The Honda HRC Castrol team will be aiming to be back at full strength for the Malaysian GP, Joan Mir given approval by his medical team to return to action and Luca Marini’s condition improving day-by-day. A circuit with fond memories and past successes, the Sepang International Circuit is the perfect launch pad for a strong final push in 2026.
Ruled unfit in Australia due to a virus, Luca Marini will need to undertake a medical check before his participation in the Malaysian round can be confirmed. Having focused exclusively on his recovery since Friday, the Italian has felt his strength return and is eager to reunite with his team. Sepang has seen the #10 score points consistently with Honda, achieving a best finish of eighth place in 2025 at the 5.5-kilometre-long track. With the cancellation of the Australian round, this weekend is set to be his 200th Grand Prix start.
A welcome return to his Honda RC213V is on the horizon for Joan Mir, the #36 having put in an impressive amount of work behind the scenes to overcome his medical issue. The 2020 MotoGP World Champion is focusing on getting back into the rhythm of a MotoGP weekend, having last ridden the 1,000cc machine on September 13. With thousands of testing miles collected across the years, the Sepang International Circuit is a familiar place for Mir to return as he targets a final flourish of success in his last four races as a Honda HRC rider.
After the wild weather of Phillip Island, the entire MotoGP World Championship will no doubt have their eyes tuned to the sky throughout the weekend looking for the typical Malaysian rainstorms.
Luca Marini (on the left) and Joan Mir (on the right). Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini: “Unfortunately we couldn’t do more than a couple of laps in Phillip Island and since Friday I have been fully focused on recovering as much as possible. I am starting to feel better and have been able to return to the gym, but a MotoGP bike is always something different. Sepang is a physically demanding circuit with the conditions, certainly it will be a weekend where we change the approach a little bit to make sure we have enough energy for Sunday and a lot also depends on what the weather does. We have to do the medical test before the weekend, but I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Joan Mir:“It hasn’t been an easy period, and I want to thank everyone close to me for helping to keep focused and working towards the end goal. I’ve been able to do some riding with different kinds of bikes in the past week, and the doctors have given me the green light to return. I am really looking forward to seeing the team again and seeing what we can do in these final races of the year. Sepang is a circuit which holds some good memories for me and for us as Honda and I think it’s the correct decision to return at such a familiar track. The most important point of the weekend is to get back on the bike, reconnect with the team and check my feeling.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Ducati Lenovo Team faces the Sepang challenge seeking thetenth win in red.
19th race of 2026 with the MotoGP circus flying to the Sepang International Circuit. A demanding track and a scorching, very humid climate that will put everyone to the test. A track where the Desmosedici GP boasts a great tradition with 9 victories: from the first successes with Loris Capirossi (1) in 2005 and the dominance of Casey Stoner (2), to the wins of Andrea Dovizioso (2), up to the recent triumphs of Pecco Bagnaia (2) and Enea Bastianini (1). In 2025, the red bike from Borgo Panigale confirmed expectations with Pecco’s victory on Saturday and Alex Márquez’s (1) victory in Sunday’s GP.
After the Sprint at Phillip Island that allowed him to return to first place in the general standings, Marc Márquez is ready to continue being a key player in a crucial weekend for the Championship. A track very different from the Australian one and weather conditions that need to be managed as best as possible.
Coming off a tough weekend in Australia, Pecco Bagnaia arrives in Malaysia ready to bounce back on one of his favorite overseas circuits, an iconic track where he has always been among the most competitive.
Francesco Bagnaia (on the left) and Marc Marquez (on the right). Photo courtesy Ducati.
Marc Márquez (#93, Ducati Lenovo Team): “Sepang is a completely different track compared to Phillip Island, and the weather here always makes everything more challenging. Saturday’s race in Australia gave me a great boost, but we must stay focused: the goal is to keep playing a leading role and manage every session and effort as best we can”.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63, Ducati Lenovo Team): “In Australia it wasn’t an easy weekend, but Sepang is one of the overseas tracks I love the most. Here the Desmosedici GP has been able to make the difference, and we have wonderful memories. We will work hard right from Friday to immediately find the right feeling and play our cards over the weekend”.
More, from a press release issued by VR46 Team:
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team goes to Sepang International Circuit, where this weekend the Malaysian GP – the penultimate round of the Overseas – will take place.
MotoGP gets ready to face the second back-to-back weekend of the Overseas and this weekend hits the track at the Sepang International Circuit. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team is eager to race at the Malaysian GP after the cancellation of Sunday’s race at Phillip Island due to bad weather. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli’s goal is to confirm the good feelings and the steps forward in this last part of the Asian races.
Di Giannantonio arrives to Sepang in sixth place in the World Standing with 252 points, and he is ready to replicate the good performances of Australia, where he claimed a Sprint podium. On the Malaysian track, the winter tests usually take place, and this weekend won’t be the first approach of the year. However, Sepang is different compared to Phillip Island, and this will represent a new challenge for Fabio, who got a sixth place in last year’s race as his best result in MotoGP.
Morbidelli has great memories of the Sepang International Circuit, where he claimed two podiums in Moto2: a second place in 2016 and a third place in 2017. The latter result allowed him to be crowned World Champion in the intermediate class. Franco’s best result in MotoGP on the Malaysian track is a fourth place he got both in last year’s Sprint and race. The Italian-Brazilian rider’s goal for the Malaysian GP is to continue making step forward, building on his solid performance on this track.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will hit the track on Friday for Free Practice sessions, while Qualifying will take place on Saturday at ore 10:50 (local time, +8 UTC). The Sprint will get underway at 3:00 pm (local time, +8 UTC) on Saturday, while the Malaysian GP will conclude on Sunday with the main race, starting exceptionally at 3:00 pm (local time, +8 UTC).
Fabio Di Giannantonio at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy VR46 Team.
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “We arrive to the Malaysian GP with positivity after the Sprint podium we claimed in Australia. Even if Sunday’s race didn’t take place, the good result of last Saturday gives us a lot of confidence heading to Sepang, despite being a completely different track from Phillip Island. Also, the conditions will be very different because it will be very hot, but it’s a very beautiful track, I like it. In Malaysia, the goal will be to confirm the good feelings, and we aim to have a linear weekend, getting off to a good start right away just as we did so far. It will be a good challenge, and we are eager to go on track.”
Franco Morbidelli (21). Photo courtesy VR46 Team.
Franco Morbidelli: “I look forward to riding at Sepang, which is a very different track from Phillip Island. I like the track a lot and I have good memories: here I won the Moto2 World Title in 2017 and, overall, I’ve always been fast and got good results. This year, we’re not where we want to be yet, and on this track, you need a good feeling to be fast. But we arrive to the Malaysian GP with confidence, and we continue working to be competitive again. So, this weekend’s goal is the Top10 again.”
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP to Return to Action in Sepang.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins are determined to push to the limit at the Sepang International Circuit during this weekend’s Grand Prix of Malaysia, Round 19 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.
Following the unfortunate cancellation of the race at Phillip Island last Sunday, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are eager to start the action again. They have travelled from Australia to Malaysia for Round 19 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, held this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit.
Fabio Quartararo holds on to 15th place in the championship standings, and he will be on the attack again this weekend. He has raced at the Sepang circuit eight times (in the Moto3 class in 2016, in Moto2 in 2017 and 2018, and in MotoGP in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) and never finished a full-length race outside the top 7. He came close to a podium in 2016, finishing fourth, and in 2018, 2023 and 2025, when he finished fifth. He had his first and only podium finish on Malaysian soil in 2022, when he secured third place despite riding with a hand injury sustained in a crash earlier that weekend.
Álex Rins arrives in Malaysia holding 20th place in the rankings. The Spaniard was disappointed for the fans that the race at Phillip Island didn‘t take place and is keen to make up for it with a good show this weekend. He is looking forward to the Malaysian GP, especially since Sepang historically is a good track for him. He secured second place there in 2013 and third place in 2014 in the Moto3 class, and in the premier class he rode to second place in 2018.
The Sepang International Circuit staged its first Grand Prix in 1999 and has been on the MotoGP calendar ever since. The 5.54 km track has a reputation for providing very exciting racing thanks to a mixture of slow and medium-to-high-speed corners (five left and ten right) and two long straights, the longest measuring 920 m. The circuit is also one of the longest tracks of the MotoGP season, and the riders have to negotiate it in extremely hot and humid conditions, making this GP extra challenging.
The Grand Prix of Malaysia is held in the GMT+8 time zone. FP1 will take place on Friday from 10:45-11:30 local track time and Practice will be held from 15:00-16:00. On Saturday, FP2 will be held from 10:10-10:40, and the qualifying sessions from 10:50-11:30, followed by the 10-lap Sprint at 15:00. On Sunday, Warm Up is held from 10:40-10:50 and the 20-lap Race will start at 15:00.
Fabio Quartararo (20) at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo:“I’m happy to be back in Sepang. It’s a track that I enjoy, and normally the racing there is always interesting. The bike has changed since last year, so it will be important to see where we stand as quickly as possible on Friday. After what happened in Australia, everyone is looking forward to getting back on track and racing again. The Malaysian fans are always very passionate, and I’m excited to see them this weekend.”
Alex Rins (42) at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Alex Rins:“I’m really looking forward to racing in Sepang. After Phillip Island, all we want is to get back on the bike and put on a good show for the fans – for sure they were all disappointed last weekend. I’ve always enjoyed this track, and I’ve had some good results here in the past. The conditions can be quite tough because of the heat and humidity, but that’s part of the challenge. We’ll work hard from the first session, try to find a good feeling with the bike, and see what we can achieve during the weekend.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director:“After an unusual end to the Australian GP weekend, our focus is now fully on Sepang. Historically, this circuit has often suited our package, and it is a track where both Fabio and Álex have achieved strong results in the past. We also have valuable reference data from our previous testing here, although the bike has continued to evolve since then. Sepang is always a demanding venue because of the heat, humidity, and the physical nature of the layout, but it also provides a good benchmark to assess performance. We are motivated to make the most of this weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Malaysia after a missed opportunity in Australia.
After the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix due to extreme weather, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads straight to Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Jack Miller arrives looking to build on his strong performance at Phillip Island, while Augusto Fernandez continues his work with the team and aims to regain his race rhythm.
The cancellation of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix left Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP with a sense of a missed opportunity, particularly for Jack Miller. The Australian had shown strong pace throughout his home Grand Prix weekend, securing fifth on the grid and eighth in the Sprint, matching his best result of the season and scoring his first points in a Saturday race this year. The cancellation denied him the chance to race one last time at his beloved Phillip Island in front of his home fans, making the Sprint result an important memory from his final MotoGP appearance at the iconic venue. The team now turns its attention to Malaysia, where the next round of the championship takes place this weekend.
The Sepang International Circuit presents a different challenge for the YZR-M1. Its 5.543-kilometre layout features 15 corners and two long straights, including a 920-metre main straight, placing a strong emphasis on acceleration, braking stability and top speed. These characteristics could make it a demanding circuit for Yamaha, although Miller has previous experience of competitive results at Sepang, having finished sixth in 2022 and eighth in 2023.
Weather could also play a role in the weekend. Rain showers are common in Malaysia at this time of year, and wet conditions could offer Miller an opportunity to make the most of his strengths. The Australian showed encouraging pace in the wet at Phillip Island and will aim to carry that confidence into the Malaysian round, whatever conditions the team encounters.
For Augusto Fernandez, the priority remains building mileage on the YZR-M1 and getting back into the rhythm of racing. As Yamaha’s test and development rider, he knows the bike well, but each race weekend provides valuable experience working with Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP and adapting to the team’s approach. Sepang is a circuit he already knows, offering a useful opportunity to continue progressing and build confidence ahead of the final rounds of the season.
Jack Miller (43) at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Pramac.
Jack Miller:“I‘m looking forward to Malaysia. We‘ve done plenty of laps around Sepang over the years, and it‘s a track I enjoy riding. It‘ll also be nice to get back to some warm weather, and hopefully we can have a positive weekend.”
Augusto Fernandez:“I‘m looking forward to Malaysia and to having another opportunity to keep improving with the team. Every lap is important for me at the moment, as I work to get back into the MotoGP race rhythm as quickly as possible. Sepang is a track I already know, which should help me focus on building my feeling with the bike and understanding the package better. We‘ll keep working step by step and make the most of the weekend, whatever the conditions.”
Gino Borsoi – Team Director:“Of course, it‘s a shame for Jack and the whole team that we couldn‘t take part in the race. This was a particularly important occasion for Jack, as it was his final MotoGP Grand Prix at Phillip Island. At least he was able to race in the Sprint, where he delivered his best performance of the season, scored points and put Yamaha inside the top ten. He‘ll take that memory away with him, and it‘s one he truly deserves. He could probably have achieved even more today, but these are the circumstances we have to accept. The riders‘ safety must always come first, and I believe Race Direction made the right decision.”
AHRMA riders
Ennis King (888), Matthew Puchalski (353) and others at Motorsport Park Hastings, 2025. Photo by Eldon Holmes/AHRMA.
(October 30, Knoxville, Tennessee) – The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) 2027 National Roadracing series presented by VIB-ISO will unfold over 10 weekends at a variety of racetracks throughout the United States.
“AHRMA is ready to hit the gas in 2027 with a schedule that delivers a fantastic mix of iconic venues from coast to coast. While many of our favorite annual stops return, I’m especially excited to see AHRMA heading back to Inde Motorsports Ranch and making long-awaited returns to Thunderhill Raceway and West Desert, formerly Utah Motorsports Campus. These additions bring even more variety to an already strong lineup, creating a well-rounded season that racers and fans alike are going to love,” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director.
The season kicks off on February 11 with an AHRMA-run track day open to members of all organizations at Roebling Road Raceway and moves into the race weekend from February 12-14, in Bloomingdale, GA and will conclude the weekend of October 7, during the 22nd Annual Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, AL.
This season includes a western back-to-back with a weekend at Thunderhill Raceway, CA, followed by West Desert Raceway, UT.
Mark your calendar now for some of the world’s best classic motorcycle racing events with AHRMA.
2027 AHRMA National Roadracing Series Schedule*
2/11-14 Roebling Road Raceway; Bloomingdale, GA
3/26-28 Carolina Motorsports Park; Kershaw, SC
4/23-25 Inde Motorsports Ranch, Willcox AZ
5/21-23 Nelson Ledges Road Course; Garrettsville, OH
6/11-6/13 Autobahn, Joliet, IL (dates pending)
6/25-27 New Jersey Motorsports Park; Millville, NJ
7/30-8/1 Blackhawk Farms Raceway; South Beloit, IL
8/27-29 Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA
9/3-5 West Desert Raceway, Grantsville, UT
10/8-11 Barber Motorsports Park; Birmingham, AL**
*Preliminary Schedule as of 10/30/2026, subject to change
**The Barber Vintage Festival event is a no refund event. All road racers MUST BE FULL Members (no weekend memberships are available)
“I’m super excited about the 2027 AHRMA Road Racing schedule. We’ve got a terrific mix of venues that promise our racers a diverse and challenging season. Putting a schedule together is about more than selecting tracks, it’s about creating a great experience for our members and giving them something to look forward to all season long, Leasha has nailed it! Before you know it, February will be here, and we’ll be back on the grid. So, now’s the time to get those machines ready,” shared Greg “GT” Tomlinson, AHRMA Chairman of the Board.
The AHRMA Academy of Roadracing (AAR) and the Sidecar Racing School (SRS) will be held on Friday of most events except the Barber Vintage Festival. Pass the school on Friday and be eligible to race the weekend. Final school schedule will be announced at a later date.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With about 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Marc Marquez (93) at Sepang. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Marc Marquez led MotoGP World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP26 on spec Michelin tires, the seven-time World Champion turned a lap time of 1:57.000 to lead the 21-rider field.
Alex Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:57.109 on his BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Ai Ogura was third at 1:57.167 on his SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26.
Pedro Acosta finished the session fourth with a 1:57.380 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.
Fabio Di Giannantonio got fifth on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26 with a time of 1:57.442.
Marco Bezzecchi was 6th on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 with a lap time of 1:57.475 and his injured teammate Jorge Martin got 21st with a time of 1:59.670.
Marc Marquez top in Sepang on Friday despite crash, Martin ends Practice early. Far from a smooth day of running for the defending World Champion but P1 nonetheless whereas arch-rival Martin called it a day early as he battles his broken wrist pain.
An early crash couldn’t throw Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) off course as the #93 made up for his final corner error to lead the MotoGP charge on Friday afternoon. He was able to pip brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) whilst a late lap from Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP) put the Dutch GP winner in third. Completing just three laps, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) ended Practice early and will have another go tomorrow in FP2.
FIRST ENCOUNTERS: Martin pulls in, Marc Marquez crashes
Before the session had even reached a third of the way to being done, the top two in the Championship were making headlines. Martin’s day was done after three laps and the decision was taken that the #89 will sit out the remainder of Practice, although he’ll hit the track tomorrow morning for FP2 to see how he is on Sprint Saturday. Should he take part for the rest of the weekend then the 2024 World Champion will find himself in Q1. Then, at Turn 15, Marc Marquez crashed, tucking the front and sliding through the gravel, although he was soon back on his feet.
BOUNCING BACK: the #93 asserts authority
Into the second half of the session and it was Di Giannantonio leading the way ahead of Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR). All of the fastest lap times were being set early on with riders opting for long runs in the first 40 minutes or so. After his fall, Marc Marquez was back out on track and provisionally P8 with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. However, not for long as the Championship leader blasted in a 1’57.000 to go top of the timesheets by nearly four tenths of a second.
CHANGES APLENTY: Ogura into the top 3, Zarco and Bagnaia fall
There were a whole load of changes in the top ten with just over ten minutes remaining with Acosta, Bezzecchi and Bastianini all moving into the top five whilst Ogura, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) also found improvements. Three minutes on the clock and Ogura continued to improve with a move up to P3 whilst the yellow flags were out at Turns 7 and 8 for a late fall for Zarco. Then, Turn 1 caught out double World Champion Bagnaia who tucked the front; the crashes confirmed both riders’ presence in Q1 tomorrow.
FRIDAY’S TOP 10: Q2 spots bagged
Nobody could get on terms with Marc Marquez though as the reigning World Champion led a Marquez 1-2 ahead of Alex in second and looked good not only on one lap but with race pace too. Ogura’s late improvement brought the Japanese to third by the end of play, ahead of Acosta and Di Giannantonio. Bezzecchi had a steady start to bag a Q2 spot in sixth ahead of a strong showing from Red Bull KTM Tech3 duo Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales, with three KTMs going directly into Q2 for the first time since Hungary last year. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and a returning Mir who was welcomed back with P10.
MISSING THE CUT: Bagnaia headlines, Martin back on track in FP2
Zarco’s crash late on cost him as he missed out by 0.187s, just 0.002s ahead of Pecco in 12th. Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) had a big front-end save at Turn 15 which cost him any improvement and thus finds himself in Q1, whilst the best Yamaha was Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) just behind him in P14. Martin sitting out the rest of the session after three laps leaves him in Q1 and he hopes that he can be competitive on Saturday.
Sprint Saturday commences from 09:00 local time (UTC +8); don’t miss a lap!
Manuel Gonzalez (18) at Sepang. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Manuel Gonzalez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) road course in 2:03.737, topping the field of 28 riders.
Alonso Lopez was second-best with a time of 2:03.881 on his ITALJET Gresini Kalex.
Daniel Holgado did a third-fastest 2:03.943 on his CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team Kalex.
Izan Guevara crossed the finish line fourth on his BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha boscoscuro with a lap time of 2:03.971 and Tony Arbolino got fifth on his REDS Fantic Racing Kalex with a time of 2:04.448.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 12th with a best time of 2:04.685 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Gonzalez collects Friday P1 as big hitters miss Q2 cut in Sepang. A crash in FP1 was backed up by an impressive Practice top spot display from the Moto2 title race leader in Malaysia, with title rival Guevara fourth fastest.
After a fast crash in Free Practice 1, World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) bounced back in style in the all-important Moto2 Practice session to top the timesheets on Friday at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. Gonzalez’s 2:03.737 was good enough to see off the Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) threat by 0.144s, with Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) completing the top three.
Holgado was another rider to crash this morning, but like Gonzalez, didn’t show any ill effects from the tip-off in the afternoon stint. Fourth place went to Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), who was the only other rider to get below 0.7s away from his title rival’s table-topping time. The exact gap between the title-chasing duo? 0.234s.
2022 Moto2 Malaysian GP winner Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing) rounded out the top five ahead of the rider third in the overall standings, Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – MSI). And it was double delight in the MSI box because Ortola’s teammate Angel Piqueras finished P7 to front the rookie charge in Moto2 Practice.
Some of the big headlines came further down the order, though. Two of our 2025 Moto2 Malaysian GP podium finishers, David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team) and Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing), ended the session in P18 and P19 to face Q1, and they’ll be joined in Q1 by British GP winner Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) after the Czech star missed out on the top 14 because his second fastest lap was slower than Adrian Huertas’ (Italtrans Racing Team) – the duo both setting 2:04.735.
David Almansa (22) at Sepang. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
David Almansa led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Almansa used his Pirelli-shod Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM to lap the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) track in 2:11.427 to lead the field of 25 riders.
Rico Salmela was second-best with a time of 2:11.496 on his Red Bull KTM Tech 3 machine.
Veda Pratama, piloting his Honda Team Asia machine, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 2:11.519.
Home hero Hakim Danish was fourth on his AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI KTM with a lap time of 2:11.573 and Adrian Fernandez finished the practice session fifth on his Leopard Racing Honda with a time of 2:11.589.
Almansa soars to Sepang P1 on Friday, home star Danish fourth. It was business as usual on Friday for the rider currently P2 in the standings whilst the home crowd will be cheering on Danish’s strong start.
After a tricky start to the day, David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) paved his way to P1 to draw first blood in Moto3 in Malaysia. Aiming to consolidate P2 overall in the standings, the #22 set the fastest time of the day to head the field whilst the homecoming tour is well underway for Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI) with the Malaysian fourth at the chequered flag.
A 2’11.427 saw the Spaniard clear by less than a tenth of a second from rookie star Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3), taking to Sepang for the first time. 0.069s split the top two whilst less than a tenth covered the top three with Phillip Island polesitter Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) continuing his form in third and taking top Honda honours. Danish was a star in fourth ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) whilst, like Almansa, Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA) turned around a tricky FP1 to round out the top six in Practice.
Heavyweight names are scattered further back with the likes of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P7, teammate Brian Uriarte in P9 and David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in P10. 2026 World Champion Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) was only 11th whereas big names missed the cut all together. US GP winner Guido Pini (Leopard Racing) will face the Q1 music in 15th, along with Argentinean pairing Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team).
Raul Fernandez (25) at Mandalika. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
The #25 won’t be taking part in the rest of the Malaysian GP as he continues to suffer with his fingers, broken in Lombok.
Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP team) put in a superhuman ride at the Indonesian GP to take a podium despite having fractured fingers, but the #25 was then forced to withdraw from the Australian GP as his recovery continues.
Arriving in Sepang for the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, Fernandez got the ok to take part in FP1 and headed out in the session. However, in a review thereafter he was declared officially unfit and is now sidelined from the event, instead focusing on making a full recovery.
Marc Marquez (93) at Sepang. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Marc Marquez topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Michelin-shod Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:58.912 around the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) track and led the 22-rider field.
Marco Bezzecchi was second-best with a 1:59.386 on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26.
Pedro Acosta was third with a lap of 1:59.386 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.
Enea Bastianini finished the first session fourth on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16 with a time of 1:59.688.
Acosta’s teammate, Brad Binder got fifth with a time of 1:59.737.
Marc Marquez leads Bezzecchi and Acosta in FP1, injured Martin completes 12 laps. The championship leader heads into Practice 0.4s clear of the Aprilia and KTM stars, while the #89 finishes 1.8s off the pace in a promising start to the Malaysian GP.
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) enjoyed a perfect start to his PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia after the World Championship leader set the only 1:58 lap of the session to lead Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) by 0.474s. The duo set the exact same time to finish FP1 just under half a second away from the #93’s 1:58.912, but that wasn’t the biggest story of the opening session in Sepang.
The main focus? Jorge Martin’s (Aprilia Racing) progress. Team Manager Paolo Bonora explained the 2024 World Champion, “expected to feel worse”, with the plan being not to push too much and save energy for Practice later this afternoon. It’s early doors, of course, but that’s great news going into this afternoon for the rider just 10 points off Marc Marquez in the title chase. At the end of play in FP1, Martin completed 12 laps and sits 1.8s off the summit heading into this afternoon’s one-hour Practice stint, six days after suffering a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius. Incredible.
Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) handed KTM a great start to their weekend in Malaysia by sticking their RC16s inside the top five in P4 and P5, while it was Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and last year’s Malaysian GP winner, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who were the only other riders to get within a second of Marc Marquez’s FP1 pace.
Elsewhere, Raul Fernandez’s (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) weekend is over after the Spaniard was declared unfit after a review during FP1. Fernandez will now head back to Spain for some thorough treatment in order to try to be fit for the upcoming Qatar GP.
Izan Guevara (28) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Izan Guevara was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Pirelli-shod BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha boscoscuro on the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 2:04.005 to lead the field of 28 riders.
David Alonso was the best of the rest with a 2:04.568 on his CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team Kalex and his teammate Daniel Holgado got third with exactly the same lap time of 2:04.568.
American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in fourth with a 2:04.758 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Collin Veijer got fifth with a time of 2:04.800.
Alvaro Carpe (83) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Alvaro Carpe was quickest during Moto3 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Petronas Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) road course in 2:11.585, topping the field of 25 riders.
Maximo Quiles was the best of the rest with a 2:11.714 on his CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team KTM and his teammate Marco Morelli was third with a lap time of 2:11.720.
Veda Pratama got fourth with a lap time of 2:11.819 on his Honda Team Asia machine and home hero Hakim Danish was fifth with a time of 2:11.834 on his AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI KTM.
Kensei Matsudaira on the Team Roberts Kramer (74) at VIR. Photo by Apex Pro Photo
The biennial FIM Intercontinental Games (ICG) returns this season for its second edition, with the 2026 Goiás FIM Intercontinental Games scheduled for 11–13 December at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiânia, Brazil.
The prestigious event will bring together teams from the six FIM Continental Unions (CONUs) – Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania – to compete across circuit racing and motocross. Each CONU will field twelve riders, split evenly between Supersport (SSP), Supersport 300 (SSP300) and MX2. The two circuit racing classes featured at the inaugural ICG at Jerez, Spain, in 2024, while MX2 joins the programme for 2026, extending the competition to off-road racing.
Each CONU may select one ‘specialist’ rider with a permanent place in an FIM World Championshipin 2026. Teams must also include at least one female rider per category, who may likewise be a permanent FIM World Championship rider this season. All other selected riders must be considered ‘rising talents’ and must not have competed in an FIM World Championship as permanent riders during 2026.
Yamaha will provide machinery for both circuit racing classes, with a fleet of YZF-R7 and YZF-R3 models available. Motocross competitors will race on locally supplied motorcycles, according to each rider’s requested brand and model and in compliance with FIM regulations.
In the run-up to the event, we will take a closer look at each CONU’s selection. This week, FIM North America takes the spotlight.
FIM North America’s efforts in Brazil will be overseen by Circuit Racing Team Manager Michael Martin who returns to his 2024 role alongside Steve Westfall who is the Motocross Team Manager.
Kensei Matsudaira at San Juan Villicum. Photo courtesy of Kensei Matsudaira.
Captaining the team’s SSP300 riders, Kensei Matsudaira only turned sixteen in October, but the Californian already has a wealth of experience across a variety of disciplines including Flat Track, SuperMoto and Speedway. A multi-time champion in the MotoAmerica Mini Cup, he finished a close second in both the MotoAmerica Talent Cup and the FIM Moto4 Latin Cup this season.
Ella Dreher on her MP13 Racing/One Cure Racing MotoAmerica MV Agusta Supersport racebike. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
He is joined by Ella Dreher in an SSP300 squad that is filled with young, talented riders. A fighting fifth in the 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup, the sixteen-year-old Floridian represented Melissa Paris’ team in the first three rounds of the 2026 MotoAmerica Supersport championship before a crash in May sidelined her, although she returned for the final two rounds and will be fighting fit for the ICG.
Avery Dreher (on the left) and Hayden Schults (on the right) at the 2024 FIM Intercontinental Games. Photo by Gpagency / courtesy FIM.
The team’s third SSP300 rider is sixteen-year-old Hank Vossberg who has dominated the 2026 MotoAmerica Twins Cup, claiming eight race wins on his way to the national title. Last season the rider from Minnesota placed third overall – with three race wins – in the 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup series and also made appearances in the Twins Cup on his way to fourth overall.
Hank Vossberg (31). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Completing FIM North America’s all-teenaged line-up in the SSP300 category, sixteen-year-old Texan Michael ‘Mikey Lou’ Sanchez was eighteenth in this year’s FIM Moto4 European Cup. A former champion in the 110cc and 160cc classes of the MotoAmerica Mini Cup, he has had a base in Europe in recent seasons.
Mikey Lou Sanchez at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Texas Motorcycle Academy.
FIM North America’s effort in the SSP category is Captained by twenty-year-old Californian Max Toth. Another rider who competed in Jerez in 2024, Toth was fourth in the opening SSP300 race two years ago before his early exit from race two. A MotoAmerica Junior Cup race winner and Twins Cup podium finisher, Toth competed in the 2024 FIM Europe Moto2 European Championship and after injury marred his 2025 season he bounced back this year, racing in selected rounds of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup and the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series and finished twenty-second in the FIM JuniorGP Moto2 World Championship.
Max Toth (27) at Magny-Cours, in France. Photo courtesy Cardoso Racing Team.
Toth is joined on the SSP team by eighteen-year-old Maryland racer Matthew Chapin who achieved SSP300 finishes of seventh and twelfth at Jerez in 2024. This season he has continued to show his huge promise and was just two points away from an overall podium finish in the seven-round MotoAmerica Twins Cup after finishing second on his series debut in 2025.
Matthew Chapin (95) at NJMP. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
A veteran of the 2024 ICG when she recorded a pair of thirteenth-placed finishes in the SSP class, thirty-two-year-old Mallory Dobbs from Washington State works as a civil engineer when she is not racing. A late convert to motorcycling having only learned to ride at the age of twenty-two, Dobbs raced at amateur level until making her MotoAmerica debut in 2022 and has competed in all three editions of the FIM WorldWCR series with end-of-season rankings of eleventh in 2024, fourteenth in 2025 and twenty-third this year.
Mallory Dobbs at 2024 FIM Intercontinental Games. Photo by Gpagency / courtesy FIM.
Completing the FIM North America SSP line-up, twenty-year-old Blake Davis was fifth in this season’s MotoAmerica Supersport championship after finishing third in 2024 and 2025. A two-time MotoAmerica Twins Cup champion, the Virginian – winner of the AMA Youth Road Racer of the Year award in 2018 and AMA Nicky Hayden Road Racing Horizon Award in 2019 – competed in the inaugural ICG when he recorded an eleventh in the second SSP race after retiring on the opening lap of race one.
Blake Davis (22) at NJMP. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Canadian Dylan Rempel is Captain of the MX2 squad and the nineteen-year-old from Ontario will be aiming to lead by example having already forged a hard-earned reputation for his determination and commitment. With experience of running near the front in both the AMA Pro Motocross Championship SMX Next and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship 250SX Futuresclasses, this season Rempel was crowned 250cc Pro Class champion in the national Canadian Triple Crown series.
Aged just seventeen and hailing from Colorado, Mayla Herrick had to wait until round three of the 2026 AMA Women’s Motocross Championship until she was old enough to compete and she immediately claimed a moto win before crashing out of the second race. Despite this she still finished the season ranked eighth with overall podiums at Unadilla and Ironman Raceway and she was the youngest member of the Team USA squad that won the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup in early 2026.
The third member of the MX2 team, twenty-four-year-old Preston Kilroy won the 250 Pro class of the national 2025 Triple Crown Series before graduating to the 450 Pro division this season where he finished fourth and claimed the overall win at the final round. The rider from Wyoming made his professional Motocross debut in 2020 and his professional Supercross debut two years later and has competed in both the 250 and 450 classes of the AMA Pro Motocross Nationals as well as the 2023 SuperMotocross World Championship.
Hailing from Manitoba in Canada, twenty-one-year-old Ryder McNabb is a two-time 250 Pro Canadian Motocross Champion who was tenth in this season’s 450 Pro class in the Triple Crown Series after finishing seventh in the 250 Pro class in 2025. Making his professional debut in the 250cc class in 2024, he has achieved three top-twenty finishes in the 250cc class of the AMA Pro Motocross Nationals and also has a top-twenty finish in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship 250SX Futures class on his racing résumé.
Rob Dingman, President of FIM North America, said: “The FIM Intercontinental Games brings the spirit of competition on two wheels under the international spotlight, and we are eager to showcase the collective talent of the riders from our continent. As we celebrate the second running of this event later this year, we anticipate a strong showing from our twelve riders in Brazil.”
Mike Pelletier, FIM North America Delegate, stated: “We have built a competitive team with a collection of skilled Circuit and Motocross riders that we feel very confident in for this year’s FIM Intercontinental Games. Team managers Michael Martin and Steve Westfall bring plenty of experience to their respective roles. I look forward to watching our team compete at this prestigious event, with a chance to bring international glory to North America.”
Michael Martin, FIM North America’s Circuit Racing Manager, commented: “I’m very honoured [to be Manager]. It’s a pleasure for me to do it and I certainly enjoy it. It’s been very rewarding so far and, hopefully, we’re going to go down there now that we have our feet underneath us and get a good result.”
Steve Westfall, FIM North America’s Motocross Manager, added: “To be asked to be a Team Manager for such a cool event is an honour. The fact that they considered me means a lot! The team is going to be great. Mike [Pelletier] and I went with what we thought would be the best team to win the FIM Intercontinental Games. Good luck to all the other CONUs competing in this event.”
MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 teams are heading to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia this weekend for Round 19 of the 2026 FIM MotoGP World Championship. From October 30 to November 1, the paddock returns to the 3.44-mile (5.54-kilometer) circuit as the overseas campaign enters its final round. Following Jorge Martin’s crash at Phillip Island and with Marco Bezzecchi now 50 points behind Marc Marquez, every point becomes crucial as the championship battles intensify. Below, find the latest team press releases ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Aprilia Racing ready for Malaysia challenge.
MotoGP’s flyaway tour continues in Malaysia, at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, for the nineteenth round of the season.
Jorge Martín will travel to Malaysia despite the non-displaced fracture of the distal radius he sustained during the sprint. The Spaniard is undergoing the prescribed treatment, and his fitness will be assessed over the coming days ahead of the Grand Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi heads to Sepang after taking fourth in the Phillip Island sprint. Sunday’s long race, however, was cancelled because poor visibility prevented the medical helicopter from operating.
The Petronas Sepang International Circuit, some 50 km from Kuala Lumpur, is one of the world championship’s historic venues. At 5,540 metres, it is the second-longest circuit in the championship, with 15 corners: 10 right-handers and five left-handers. It is known for its demanding braking zones, particularly the first and the last, with hard deceleration and a difference of more than 200 km/h between entry and exit speed.
Jorge Martin. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Jorge Martin:I’m getting the treatment I need to recover from the injury and arrive at Sepang in the best possible shape. It’s impossible to make any predictions. We have to assess the situation day by day.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing.
Marco Bezzecchi:I can’t wait to get to Sepang, especially since we couldn’t race at Phillip Island. I’m happy to be going back to a track as fantastic as Sepang. Let’s hope the weather is kind to us and that we can carry on with the work we’re doing.
More, from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Mir set for Malaysian GP return alongside Marini.
After retiring from the San Marino GP and missing the four subsequent Grands Prix, Joan Mir is targeting a return to action in Sepang alongside Luce Marini.
The Honda HRC Castrol team will be aiming to be back at full strength for the Malaysian GP, Joan Mir given approval by his medical team to return to action and Luca Marini’s condition improving day-by-day. A circuit with fond memories and past successes, the Sepang International Circuit is the perfect launch pad for a strong final push in 2026.
Ruled unfit in Australia due to a virus, Luca Marini will need to undertake a medical check before his participation in the Malaysian round can be confirmed. Having focused exclusively on his recovery since Friday, the Italian has felt his strength return and is eager to reunite with his team. Sepang has seen the #10 score points consistently with Honda, achieving a best finish of eighth place in 2025 at the 5.5-kilometre-long track. With the cancellation of the Australian round, this weekend is set to be his 200th Grand Prix start.
A welcome return to his Honda RC213V is on the horizon for Joan Mir, the #36 having put in an impressive amount of work behind the scenes to overcome his medical issue. The 2020 MotoGP World Champion is focusing on getting back into the rhythm of a MotoGP weekend, having last ridden the 1,000cc machine on September 13. With thousands of testing miles collected across the years, the Sepang International Circuit is a familiar place for Mir to return as he targets a final flourish of success in his last four races as a Honda HRC rider.
After the wild weather of Phillip Island, the entire MotoGP World Championship will no doubt have their eyes tuned to the sky throughout the weekend looking for the typical Malaysian rainstorms.
Luca Marini (on the left) and Joan Mir (on the right). Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini: “Unfortunately we couldn’t do more than a couple of laps in Phillip Island and since Friday I have been fully focused on recovering as much as possible. I am starting to feel better and have been able to return to the gym, but a MotoGP bike is always something different. Sepang is a physically demanding circuit with the conditions, certainly it will be a weekend where we change the approach a little bit to make sure we have enough energy for Sunday and a lot also depends on what the weather does. We have to do the medical test before the weekend, but I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Joan Mir:“It hasn’t been an easy period, and I want to thank everyone close to me for helping to keep focused and working towards the end goal. I’ve been able to do some riding with different kinds of bikes in the past week, and the doctors have given me the green light to return. I am really looking forward to seeing the team again and seeing what we can do in these final races of the year. Sepang is a circuit which holds some good memories for me and for us as Honda and I think it’s the correct decision to return at such a familiar track. The most important point of the weekend is to get back on the bike, reconnect with the team and check my feeling.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Ducati Lenovo Team faces the Sepang challenge seeking thetenth win in red.
19th race of 2026 with the MotoGP circus flying to the Sepang International Circuit. A demanding track and a scorching, very humid climate that will put everyone to the test. A track where the Desmosedici GP boasts a great tradition with 9 victories: from the first successes with Loris Capirossi (1) in 2005 and the dominance of Casey Stoner (2), to the wins of Andrea Dovizioso (2), up to the recent triumphs of Pecco Bagnaia (2) and Enea Bastianini (1). In 2025, the red bike from Borgo Panigale confirmed expectations with Pecco’s victory on Saturday and Alex Márquez’s (1) victory in Sunday’s GP.
After the Sprint at Phillip Island that allowed him to return to first place in the general standings, Marc Márquez is ready to continue being a key player in a crucial weekend for the Championship. A track very different from the Australian one and weather conditions that need to be managed as best as possible.
Coming off a tough weekend in Australia, Pecco Bagnaia arrives in Malaysia ready to bounce back on one of his favorite overseas circuits, an iconic track where he has always been among the most competitive.
Francesco Bagnaia (on the left) and Marc Marquez (on the right). Photo courtesy Ducati.
Marc Márquez (#93, Ducati Lenovo Team): “Sepang is a completely different track compared to Phillip Island, and the weather here always makes everything more challenging. Saturday’s race in Australia gave me a great boost, but we must stay focused: the goal is to keep playing a leading role and manage every session and effort as best we can”.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63, Ducati Lenovo Team): “In Australia it wasn’t an easy weekend, but Sepang is one of the overseas tracks I love the most. Here the Desmosedici GP has been able to make the difference, and we have wonderful memories. We will work hard right from Friday to immediately find the right feeling and play our cards over the weekend”.
More, from a press release issued by VR46 Team:
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team goes to Sepang International Circuit, where this weekend the Malaysian GP – the penultimate round of the Overseas – will take place.
MotoGP gets ready to face the second back-to-back weekend of the Overseas and this weekend hits the track at the Sepang International Circuit. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team is eager to race at the Malaysian GP after the cancellation of Sunday’s race at Phillip Island due to bad weather. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli’s goal is to confirm the good feelings and the steps forward in this last part of the Asian races.
Di Giannantonio arrives to Sepang in sixth place in the World Standing with 252 points, and he is ready to replicate the good performances of Australia, where he claimed a Sprint podium. On the Malaysian track, the winter tests usually take place, and this weekend won’t be the first approach of the year. However, Sepang is different compared to Phillip Island, and this will represent a new challenge for Fabio, who got a sixth place in last year’s race as his best result in MotoGP.
Morbidelli has great memories of the Sepang International Circuit, where he claimed two podiums in Moto2: a second place in 2016 and a third place in 2017. The latter result allowed him to be crowned World Champion in the intermediate class. Franco’s best result in MotoGP on the Malaysian track is a fourth place he got both in last year’s Sprint and race. The Italian-Brazilian rider’s goal for the Malaysian GP is to continue making step forward, building on his solid performance on this track.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will hit the track on Friday for Free Practice sessions, while Qualifying will take place on Saturday at ore 10:50 (local time, +8 UTC). The Sprint will get underway at 3:00 pm (local time, +8 UTC) on Saturday, while the Malaysian GP will conclude on Sunday with the main race, starting exceptionally at 3:00 pm (local time, +8 UTC).
Fabio Di Giannantonio at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy VR46 Team.
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “We arrive to the Malaysian GP with positivity after the Sprint podium we claimed in Australia. Even if Sunday’s race didn’t take place, the good result of last Saturday gives us a lot of confidence heading to Sepang, despite being a completely different track from Phillip Island. Also, the conditions will be very different because it will be very hot, but it’s a very beautiful track, I like it. In Malaysia, the goal will be to confirm the good feelings, and we aim to have a linear weekend, getting off to a good start right away just as we did so far. It will be a good challenge, and we are eager to go on track.”
Franco Morbidelli (21). Photo courtesy VR46 Team.
Franco Morbidelli: “I look forward to riding at Sepang, which is a very different track from Phillip Island. I like the track a lot and I have good memories: here I won the Moto2 World Title in 2017 and, overall, I’ve always been fast and got good results. This year, we’re not where we want to be yet, and on this track, you need a good feeling to be fast. But we arrive to the Malaysian GP with confidence, and we continue working to be competitive again. So, this weekend’s goal is the Top10 again.”
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP to Return to Action in Sepang.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins are determined to push to the limit at the Sepang International Circuit during this weekend’s Grand Prix of Malaysia, Round 19 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.
Following the unfortunate cancellation of the race at Phillip Island last Sunday, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are eager to start the action again. They have travelled from Australia to Malaysia for Round 19 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, held this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit.
Fabio Quartararo holds on to 15th place in the championship standings, and he will be on the attack again this weekend. He has raced at the Sepang circuit eight times (in the Moto3 class in 2016, in Moto2 in 2017 and 2018, and in MotoGP in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) and never finished a full-length race outside the top 7. He came close to a podium in 2016, finishing fourth, and in 2018, 2023 and 2025, when he finished fifth. He had his first and only podium finish on Malaysian soil in 2022, when he secured third place despite riding with a hand injury sustained in a crash earlier that weekend.
Álex Rins arrives in Malaysia holding 20th place in the rankings. The Spaniard was disappointed for the fans that the race at Phillip Island didn‘t take place and is keen to make up for it with a good show this weekend. He is looking forward to the Malaysian GP, especially since Sepang historically is a good track for him. He secured second place there in 2013 and third place in 2014 in the Moto3 class, and in the premier class he rode to second place in 2018.
The Sepang International Circuit staged its first Grand Prix in 1999 and has been on the MotoGP calendar ever since. The 5.54 km track has a reputation for providing very exciting racing thanks to a mixture of slow and medium-to-high-speed corners (five left and ten right) and two long straights, the longest measuring 920 m. The circuit is also one of the longest tracks of the MotoGP season, and the riders have to negotiate it in extremely hot and humid conditions, making this GP extra challenging.
The Grand Prix of Malaysia is held in the GMT+8 time zone. FP1 will take place on Friday from 10:45-11:30 local track time and Practice will be held from 15:00-16:00. On Saturday, FP2 will be held from 10:10-10:40, and the qualifying sessions from 10:50-11:30, followed by the 10-lap Sprint at 15:00. On Sunday, Warm Up is held from 10:40-10:50 and the 20-lap Race will start at 15:00.
Fabio Quartararo (20) at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo:“I’m happy to be back in Sepang. It’s a track that I enjoy, and normally the racing there is always interesting. The bike has changed since last year, so it will be important to see where we stand as quickly as possible on Friday. After what happened in Australia, everyone is looking forward to getting back on track and racing again. The Malaysian fans are always very passionate, and I’m excited to see them this weekend.”
Alex Rins (42) at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Alex Rins:“I’m really looking forward to racing in Sepang. After Phillip Island, all we want is to get back on the bike and put on a good show for the fans – for sure they were all disappointed last weekend. I’ve always enjoyed this track, and I’ve had some good results here in the past. The conditions can be quite tough because of the heat and humidity, but that’s part of the challenge. We’ll work hard from the first session, try to find a good feeling with the bike, and see what we can achieve during the weekend.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director:“After an unusual end to the Australian GP weekend, our focus is now fully on Sepang. Historically, this circuit has often suited our package, and it is a track where both Fabio and Álex have achieved strong results in the past. We also have valuable reference data from our previous testing here, although the bike has continued to evolve since then. Sepang is always a demanding venue because of the heat, humidity, and the physical nature of the layout, but it also provides a good benchmark to assess performance. We are motivated to make the most of this weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Malaysia after a missed opportunity in Australia.
After the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix due to extreme weather, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads straight to Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Jack Miller arrives looking to build on his strong performance at Phillip Island, while Augusto Fernandez continues his work with the team and aims to regain his race rhythm.
The cancellation of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix left Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP with a sense of a missed opportunity, particularly for Jack Miller. The Australian had shown strong pace throughout his home Grand Prix weekend, securing fifth on the grid and eighth in the Sprint, matching his best result of the season and scoring his first points in a Saturday race this year. The cancellation denied him the chance to race one last time at his beloved Phillip Island in front of his home fans, making the Sprint result an important memory from his final MotoGP appearance at the iconic venue. The team now turns its attention to Malaysia, where the next round of the championship takes place this weekend.
The Sepang International Circuit presents a different challenge for the YZR-M1. Its 5.543-kilometre layout features 15 corners and two long straights, including a 920-metre main straight, placing a strong emphasis on acceleration, braking stability and top speed. These characteristics could make it a demanding circuit for Yamaha, although Miller has previous experience of competitive results at Sepang, having finished sixth in 2022 and eighth in 2023.
Weather could also play a role in the weekend. Rain showers are common in Malaysia at this time of year, and wet conditions could offer Miller an opportunity to make the most of his strengths. The Australian showed encouraging pace in the wet at Phillip Island and will aim to carry that confidence into the Malaysian round, whatever conditions the team encounters.
For Augusto Fernandez, the priority remains building mileage on the YZR-M1 and getting back into the rhythm of racing. As Yamaha’s test and development rider, he knows the bike well, but each race weekend provides valuable experience working with Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP and adapting to the team’s approach. Sepang is a circuit he already knows, offering a useful opportunity to continue progressing and build confidence ahead of the final rounds of the season.
Jack Miller (43) at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Pramac.
Jack Miller:“I‘m looking forward to Malaysia. We‘ve done plenty of laps around Sepang over the years, and it‘s a track I enjoy riding. It‘ll also be nice to get back to some warm weather, and hopefully we can have a positive weekend.”
Augusto Fernandez:“I‘m looking forward to Malaysia and to having another opportunity to keep improving with the team. Every lap is important for me at the moment, as I work to get back into the MotoGP race rhythm as quickly as possible. Sepang is a track I already know, which should help me focus on building my feeling with the bike and understanding the package better. We‘ll keep working step by step and make the most of the weekend, whatever the conditions.”
Gino Borsoi – Team Director:“Of course, it‘s a shame for Jack and the whole team that we couldn‘t take part in the race. This was a particularly important occasion for Jack, as it was his final MotoGP Grand Prix at Phillip Island. At least he was able to race in the Sprint, where he delivered his best performance of the season, scored points and put Yamaha inside the top ten. He‘ll take that memory away with him, and it‘s one he truly deserves. He could probably have achieved even more today, but these are the circumstances we have to accept. The riders‘ safety must always come first, and I believe Race Direction made the right decision.”
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Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
