Motor racing is back and it all starts in the “Land of Smiles” on Friday, February 28th. Defending Rider’s Champion Jorge Martin sits on the sidelines for at least the first two races of the campaign after suffering multiple fractures during a recent training ride. With that breaking news out of the way, here is your MotoGP season preview with dates, tips, point allocations and odds for the Thailand Grand Prix.
After reading our analysis, check out ourpartner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place your bets.
In addition to traditional sports betting on MotoGP, the Thailand Grand Prix has Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Real Money Gaming available in a Pick’Em style on Underdog. Although “fantasy games” might seem misleading, DFS is a significant and growing category within legal sports wagering. MotoGP fans are allowed to legally make better/worse picks with real money gaming in 30 states, including California, Texas & Wisconsin, where traditional sports betting is currently illegal.
MotoGP has penciled in 22 grand prix races this season, starting at the Chang International Circuit at the end of February and concluding on November 16th at the Valencian showdown. Every rider’s endurance is tested on race weekends as they battle it out in a sprint on Saturday followed by the main event on Sunday afternoon.
GP #
Dates
Grand Prix
Circuit
1
29th February – 2nd March:
Thailand Grand Prix
Chang International Circuit, Buriram
2
14th – 16th March:
Argentinian Grand Prix
Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, Termas de Río Hondo
3
28th – 30th March:
USA Grand Prix
Circuit of the Americas, Texas
4
10th – 13th April:
Qatari Grand Prix
Lusail International Circuit, Lusail
5
24th – 27th April:
Spanish Grand Prix
Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Jerez de la Frontera
6
8th – 11th May:
French Grand Prix
Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans
7
23rd – 25th May:
British Grand Prix
Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
8
5th – 8th June:
Aragon Grand Prix
MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz
9
19th – 22nd June:
Italian Grand Prix
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero
10
26th – 29th June:
Dutch Grand Prix
TT Circuit Assen, Assen
11
10th – 13th July
German Grand Prix
Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal
12
17th – 20th July:
Czechia Grand Prix
Automotodrom Brno, Brno
13
14th – 17th August:
Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
14
21st – 24th August:
Hungarian Grand Prix
Balaton Park Circuit, Balatonfőkajár
15
4th – 7th September:
Catalan Grand Prix
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló
16
11th – 14th September:
San Marino Grand Prix
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico
17
25th – 28th September:
Japanese Grand Prix
Mobility Resort Motegi, Motegi
18
2nd – 5th October:
Indonesian Grand Prix
Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Mandalika
19
16th – 19th October:
Australian Grand Prix
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
20
23rd – 26th October:
Malaysian Grand Prix
Petronas Sepang International Circuit, Sepang
21
7th – 9th November:
Portuguese Grand Prix
Algarve International Circuit, Portimão
22
13th – 16th November:
Valencian Grand Prix
Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia
Team Lineups
Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira hogged the transfer headlines in the offseason, jumping ship to Prima Pramac. Miller returned to his old home after Pedro Acosta was promoted from Red Bull Tech3 to the Factory team. Oliveira departs the Trackhouse outfit after they opted to recruit Moto 2 rider Ai Ogura.
Team
Riders
Aprilia Racing:
Jorge Martin (Spain)+
Marco Bezzecchi (Italy)
Trackhouse MotoGP Team:
Raul Fernandez (Spain)
Ai Ogura (Japan)
Ducati Lenovo Team:
Francesco Bagnaia (Italy)
Marc Marquez (Spain)
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team:
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Italy)
Franco Morbidelli (Italy)
BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP:
Fermin Aldeguer (Spain)
Alex Marquez (Spain)
Honda HRC Castrol:
Luca Marini (Italy)
Joan Mir (Spain)
LCR Honda:
Johann Zarco (France)
Somkiat Chantra (Thailand)
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:
Brad Binder (South Africa)
Pedro Acosta (Spain)
Red Bull KTM Tech3:
Enea Bastianini (Italy)
Maverick Vinales (Spain)
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team:
Fabio Quartararo (France)
Alex Rins (Spain)
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP:
Jack Miller (Australia)
Miguel Oliveira (Portugal)
+ represents an injured rider.
Points Allocations
The top placing riders in sprint and feature racers are awarded points for their efforts, but the latter event carried more weight. Winning a feature race gets you 25 points, while the same result in a sprint is worth 12 points. Only the top 9 riders receive a share of the pie in sprints, but points are handed out to the top 15 finishers in a Sunday race.
Feature Races
Position
Points Allocated
1st Place
25
2nd Place
20
3rd Place
16
4th Place
13
5th Place
11
6th Place
10
7th Place
9
8th Place
8
9th Place
7
10th Place
6
11th Place
5
12th Place
4
13th Place
3
14th Place
2
15th Place
1
Sprint Races
Position
Points Allocated
1st Place
12
2nd Place
9
3rd Place
7
4th Place
6
5th Place
5
6th Place
4
7th Place
3
8th Place
2
9th Place
1
Best Bets and Picks for the 2025 MotoGP Season
Top Picks and Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Marc Marquez
-175
$31.43
Francesco Bagnaia
+175
$55.00
Pedro Acosta
+900
$200.00
Marc Marquez (-175):
Veteran Marc Marquez lands in a scorching hot Thailand as the heavy favorite to clinch the race one. The Spaniard finished third in the Championship in 2024, recording three wins in the process. Chang International Circuit has been kind to Marquez in the past, giving him two victories in 2018 and 2019. The two victories make him the winningest rider in the field at this venue.
Francesco Bagnaia (+175):
Imagine winning 11 grands prix and still only finishing second in the Championship, that’s how 2024 played out for “Pecco” Bagnaia. He is back in Buriram to defend the title he won in 2024, setting the all-time lap record in the process. At +175 odds, he’s an attractive wager, giving his sublime form last year and his knowledge of this circuit.
Pedro Acosta (+900):
Wunderking Pedro Acosta stunned racing fans last season as he picked up five podiums for the proverbial Red Bull “B” team. He finished sixth overall in 2024, just behind his new teammate Brad Binder. One of his podiums was at this track towards the backend of the season.
Outsider Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Alex Marquez
+1600
$340.00
Marco Bezzecchi
+2200
$460.00
Brad Binder
+6600
$1,340.00
Alex Marquez (+1600):
The younger Marquez brother, Alex, had a tough campaign in 2024, picking up a single podium at the German Grand Prix. It was the first time in the MotoGP era that two brothers had shared a podium. He finished the season strong, crossing the line in fourth place in the final two races of the year.
Marco Bezzecchi (+2200):
Team Aprilla rider Marco Bezzecchi found himself outside the top 10 in the Championship race in 2025, but he’s worked hard in the offseason. The Italian recorded a solid testing run over four sessions in early February, averaging a finish of 3.25.
Brad Binder (+6600):
South African MotoGP pioneer Brad Binder claimed fifth spot on the standings in 2024, recording his fourth season inside the top six. He is a regular top 10 finisher, and is the rider you look to in tough conditions, where he isn’t afraid to take risks, as showcased in the Austrian Grand Prixwin in 2021. He rode on slicks in the pouring rain for the last five laps, while the rest of the field changed rubber.
Expert Pick for MotoGP Thailand 2025
The hype surrounds Marc Marquez who has won at Chang International twice in his career, the last one coming in 2019. However, we like Francesco Bagnaia who is the defending champion at this track and favorably priced at +175. The sportsbooks are paying approximately $55 for a $20 bet.
Where to Bet on MotoGP
Visit our partner sportsbooksto access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you anticipate the upcoming Grand Prix of Thailand. If you’re a newbie in the world of MotoGP betting, our comprehensive MotoGP Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.
The City of Buriram welcomes the best MotoGP riders back to paradise for the 2025 season opener. Will Marc Marquez answer the punters call and win his third Thai Grand Prix or can “Pecco” Bagnaia retain the title he won in 2024? No matter the result, we are just thrilled to have the sport’s finest battling it out at high speeds.
Fabio Di Giannantonio’s hard, fair wheel-to-wheel duel with seven-time champion Marc Márquez defined his weekend at the 2026 Brazilian MotoGP, as he emerged third on the podium after a lengthy fight described as “aggressive but clean.” Di Giannantonio said he studied Márquez’s precision — particularly through left-hand turns — and “picked up a lot of ideas” about how to tackle the Spaniard in future races. The result gave Ducati its first podium of the year in the longer main race and was particularly meaningful to Di Giannantonio because it came from direct on-track combat with such an accomplished rival.
The podium followed a difficult build-up: Di Giannantonio had taken pole on Saturday and finished second in the Sprint after two mistakes handed victory to Márquez, then suffered a heavy crash in Sunday morning Warm Up that badly damaged his Ducati Desmosedici. VR46 Ducati mechanics repaired the bike in time and Di Giannantonio started the shortened Grand Prix — which had been cut by eight laps, a decision he learned about roughly six minutes before the race — despite reporting left-shoulder pain and intermittent loss of concentration from impacts under hard braking. He managed the discomfort through the early laps, found a rhythm and climbed to the podium, leaving Brazil with two podiums overall.
The weekend exposed technical gaps as much as it showcased racecraft. Di Giannantonio credited a small setup change and his crew for lifting him among the best Ducatis on the grid, but warned Aprilia had an advantage on the slippery, deteriorating asphalt and said Ducati must work on front-end stability to carry more speed through corners. Márquez, who finished fourth after a front-end washout on a patch of peeling asphalt and early tire discomfort, acknowledged the strength of Aprilia’s package and elected to back off after his off to protect championship points. Di Giannantonio’s podium also shifted the Ducati pecking order: he left Brazil as the top Ducati rider in the standings, three points clear of Márquez and 19 points behind championship leader Marco Bezzecchi. The result underlined both the value of close wheel-to-wheel racing as a development ground and the technical issues teams will need to address going forward; Ducati’s season-long podium run had already been broken in Thailand, ending an uninterrupted streak that dated back to Silverstone 2021.
Dunlop has been named the official tire supplier and technical partner for the inaugural 2026 Harley‑Davidson Bagger World Cup, a new MotoGP support series. The appointment marks Dunlop’s return to the MotoGP paddock after supplying Moto2 and Moto3 until 2024, and builds on the company’s bagger‑racing work with the Harley‑Davidson x Dynojet program in MotoAmerica, which secured the 2025 riders’ and teams’ titles. Dunlop will supply dedicated racing tires and provide full technical and trackside support across the series.
The World Cup will run six double‑header rounds (12 races) on selected MotoGP weekends: Circuit of the Americas (Mar 27–29), Mugello (May 29–31), Assen (Jun 26–28), Silverstone (Aug 7–9), MotorLand Aragón (Aug 28–30) and the Red Bull Ring (Sep 18–20). Dorna confirmed the championship in mid‑2025 following a strategic partnership between MotoGP and Harley‑Davidson in late 2024. The new series takes the calendar slot of the MotoE World Championship, which is shelved for 2026. No teams or riders have been named yet.
Competitors will race identical Harley‑Davidson Road Glide machines prepared by the Harley‑Davidson x Dynojet Factory Race Team, powered by Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee‑Eight 131 crate engines. The bikes are specified at roughly 280 kg, produce more than 200 hp, and can exceed 300 km/h. Dunlop will supply specific tire sizes (front 120/75 R17 and rear 200/65 R17), provide full on‑track tire service at each round, and administer a US$250,000 contingency prize fund with progressive payouts to the top ten finishers of each race plus a US$25,000 end‑of‑season champion bonus. Together, the factory‑prepared spec machines, integrated tire support, and substantial contingency program position the Bagger World Cup as a factory‑backed, high‑performance spec‑bike championship designed to showcase bagger racing on major international race weekends.
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia’s Brazilian weekend was defined by two crashes and a DNF. A Q2 crash early in the weekend left him with a lower-grip backup Ducati and a compromised starting position (he qualified and started 11th).
In the shortened 23-lap Goiânia GP he crashed again on lap 11 while trailing Fermin Aldeguer at Turn 1 — the second crash of the weekend and his first DNF of the season.
After the race he said, “I was just trying to hang on; I couldn’t stay on the bike,” that he had been “trying to survive,” and that he felt “at the mercy of what the bike was doing.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, 29, is on a multi‑year transition from World Superbike to MotoGP, with his 2026–27 future shaped by overlapping agreements. He left WSBK after winning a third title and signed a two‑year MotoGP deal linked to Yamaha that begins in 2026, while remaining contracted to Pramac through the end of 2027. Sources say the presence of both a Yamaha‑linked factory arrangement and an existing Pramac seat creates the central overlap about where he will race in 2027.
The 2026 season is being presented as a transition year on and off track. Razgatlıoğlu made his MotoGP debut for Pramac at the Thailand Grand Prix, finishing 17th — third of four Yamahas and ahead only of teammate Jack Miller — in a weekend that featured strong Sprint pace but a last‑corner crash. Paddock observers said the Yamaha V4 package looked uncompetitive in that outing.
His manager, Kenan Sofuoğlu, told reporters there “could be interest” from factory Yamaha but he was “99% sure” Razgatlıoğlu would remain with Pramac in 2027; Pramac’s resistance to Honda’s attempt to sign him for 2026 has reinforced that position. Honda rider Luca Marini suggested Razgatlıoğlu may need until the 2027 season to be truly competitive and pointed to planned 2027 rule changes — 850cc engines, tighter aerodynamic limits and a ban on ride‑height devices — as factors that could affect adaptation. Those 2027 expectations are already affecting the rider market: Yamaha plans a largely new lineup for 2027 and has reportedly identified 2024 champion Jorge Martin as its preferred signing on a two‑year deal while it seeks his teammate. Reports say Yamaha views Razgatlıoğlu and Alex Rins as “far behind” in the race for a factory seat, even as Sofuoğlu and Yamaha describe an ongoing project aimed at improving the bike’s competitiveness for next year. With only one race contested so far this season, Razgatlıoğlu’s on‑track development and the team decisions that will shape his 2027 programme remain a developing story.
Best Bets: MotoGP Thailand & 2025 Season Preview
Motor racing is back and it all starts in the “Land of Smiles” on Friday, February 28th. Defending Rider’s Champion Jorge Martin sits on the sidelines for at least the first two races of the campaign after suffering multiple fractures during a recent training ride. With that breaking news out of the way, here is your MotoGP season preview with dates, tips, point allocations and odds for the Thailand Grand Prix.
After reading our analysis, check out our partner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place your bets.
In addition to traditional sports betting on MotoGP, the Thailand Grand Prix has Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Real Money Gaming available in a Pick’Em style on Underdog. Although “fantasy games” might seem misleading, DFS is a significant and growing category within legal sports wagering. MotoGP fans are allowed to legally make better/worse picks with real money gaming in 30 states, including California, Texas & Wisconsin, where traditional sports betting is currently illegal.
MotoGP Schedule 2025
MotoGP has penciled in 22 grand prix races this season, starting at the Chang International Circuit at the end of February and concluding on November 16th at the Valencian showdown. Every rider’s endurance is tested on race weekends as they battle it out in a sprint on Saturday followed by the main event on Sunday afternoon.
GP #
Dates
Grand Prix
Circuit
1
29th February – 2nd March:
Thailand Grand Prix
Chang International Circuit, Buriram
2
14th – 16th March:
Argentinian Grand Prix
Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, Termas de Río Hondo
3
28th – 30th March:
USA Grand Prix
Circuit of the Americas, Texas
4
10th – 13th April:
Qatari Grand Prix
Lusail International Circuit, Lusail
5
24th – 27th April:
Spanish Grand Prix
Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Jerez de la Frontera
6
8th – 11th May:
French Grand Prix
Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans
7
23rd – 25th May:
British Grand Prix
Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
8
5th – 8th June:
Aragon Grand Prix
MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz
9
19th – 22nd June:
Italian Grand Prix
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero
10
26th – 29th June:
Dutch Grand Prix
TT Circuit Assen, Assen
11
10th – 13th July
German Grand Prix
Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal
12
17th – 20th July:
Czechia Grand Prix
Automotodrom Brno, Brno
13
14th – 17th August:
Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
14
21st – 24th August:
Hungarian Grand Prix
Balaton Park Circuit, Balatonfőkajár
15
4th – 7th September:
Catalan Grand Prix
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló
16
11th – 14th September:
San Marino Grand Prix
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico
17
25th – 28th September:
Japanese Grand Prix
Mobility Resort Motegi, Motegi
18
2nd – 5th October:
Indonesian Grand Prix
Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Mandalika
19
16th – 19th October:
Australian Grand Prix
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
20
23rd – 26th October:
Malaysian Grand Prix
Petronas Sepang International Circuit, Sepang
21
7th – 9th November:
Portuguese Grand Prix
Algarve International Circuit, Portimão
22
13th – 16th November:
Valencian Grand Prix
Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia
Team Lineups
Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira hogged the transfer headlines in the offseason, jumping ship to Prima Pramac. Miller returned to his old home after Pedro Acosta was promoted from Red Bull Tech3 to the Factory team. Oliveira departs the Trackhouse outfit after they opted to recruit Moto 2 rider Ai Ogura.
Team
Riders
Aprilia Racing:
Jorge Martin (Spain)+
Marco Bezzecchi (Italy)
Trackhouse MotoGP Team:
Raul Fernandez (Spain)
Ai Ogura (Japan)
Ducati Lenovo Team:
Francesco Bagnaia (Italy)
Marc Marquez (Spain)
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team:
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Italy)
Franco Morbidelli (Italy)
BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP:
Fermin Aldeguer (Spain)
Alex Marquez (Spain)
Honda HRC Castrol:
Luca Marini (Italy)
Joan Mir (Spain)
LCR Honda:
Johann Zarco (France)
Somkiat Chantra (Thailand)
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:
Brad Binder (South Africa)
Pedro Acosta (Spain)
Red Bull KTM Tech3:
Enea Bastianini (Italy)
Maverick Vinales (Spain)
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team:
Fabio Quartararo (France)
Alex Rins (Spain)
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP:
Jack Miller (Australia)
Miguel Oliveira (Portugal)
+ represents an injured rider.
Points Allocations
The top placing riders in sprint and feature racers are awarded points for their efforts, but the latter event carried more weight. Winning a feature race gets you 25 points, while the same result in a sprint is worth 12 points. Only the top 9 riders receive a share of the pie in sprints, but points are handed out to the top 15 finishers in a Sunday race.
Feature Races
Position
Points Allocated
1st Place
25
2nd Place
20
3rd Place
16
4th Place
13
5th Place
11
6th Place
10
7th Place
9
8th Place
8
9th Place
7
10th Place
6
11th Place
5
12th Place
4
13th Place
3
14th Place
2
15th Place
1
Sprint Races
Position
Points Allocated
1st Place
12
2nd Place
9
3rd Place
7
4th Place
6
5th Place
5
6th Place
4
7th Place
3
8th Place
2
9th Place
1
Best Bets and Picks for the 2025 MotoGP Season
Top Picks and Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Marc Marquez
-175
$31.43
Francesco Bagnaia
+175
$55.00
Pedro Acosta
+900
$200.00
Marc Marquez (-175):
Veteran Marc Marquez lands in a scorching hot Thailand as the heavy favorite to clinch the race one. The Spaniard finished third in the Championship in 2024, recording three wins in the process. Chang International Circuit has been kind to Marquez in the past, giving him two victories in 2018 and 2019. The two victories make him the winningest rider in the field at this venue.
Francesco Bagnaia (+175):
Imagine winning 11 grands prix and still only finishing second in the Championship, that’s how 2024 played out for “Pecco” Bagnaia. He is back in Buriram to defend the title he won in 2024, setting the all-time lap record in the process. At +175 odds, he’s an attractive wager, giving his sublime form last year and his knowledge of this circuit.
Pedro Acosta (+900):
Wunderking Pedro Acosta stunned racing fans last season as he picked up five podiums for the proverbial Red Bull “B” team. He finished sixth overall in 2024, just behind his new teammate Brad Binder. One of his podiums was at this track towards the backend of the season.
Outsider Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Alex Marquez
+1600
$340.00
Marco Bezzecchi
+2200
$460.00
Brad Binder
+6600
$1,340.00
Alex Marquez (+1600):
The younger Marquez brother, Alex, had a tough campaign in 2024, picking up a single podium at the German Grand Prix. It was the first time in the MotoGP era that two brothers had shared a podium. He finished the season strong, crossing the line in fourth place in the final two races of the year.
Marco Bezzecchi (+2200):
Team Aprilla rider Marco Bezzecchi found himself outside the top 10 in the Championship race in 2025, but he’s worked hard in the offseason. The Italian recorded a solid testing run over four sessions in early February, averaging a finish of 3.25.
Brad Binder (+6600):
South African MotoGP pioneer Brad Binder claimed fifth spot on the standings in 2024, recording his fourth season inside the top six. He is a regular top 10 finisher, and is the rider you look to in tough conditions, where he isn’t afraid to take risks, as showcased in the Austrian Grand Prix win in 2021. He rode on slicks in the pouring rain for the last five laps, while the rest of the field changed rubber.
Expert Pick for MotoGP Thailand 2025
The hype surrounds Marc Marquez who has won at Chang International twice in his career, the last one coming in 2019. However, we like Francesco Bagnaia who is the defending champion at this track and favorably priced at +175. The sportsbooks are paying approximately $55 for a $20 bet.
Where to Bet on MotoGP
Visit our partner sportsbooks to access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you anticipate the upcoming Grand Prix of Thailand. If you’re a newbie in the world of MotoGP betting, our comprehensive MotoGP Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.
The City of Buriram welcomes the best MotoGP riders back to paradise for the 2025 season opener. Will Marc Marquez answer the punters call and win his third Thai Grand Prix or can “Pecco” Bagnaia retain the title he won in 2024? No matter the result, we are just thrilled to have the sport’s finest battling it out at high speeds.
Related Posts
Di Giannantonio third after wheel-to-wheel with Marquez
Fabio Di Giannantonio’s hard, fair wheel-to-wheel duel with seven-time champion Marc Márquez defined his weekend at the 2026 Brazilian MotoGP, as he emerged third on the podium after a lengthy fight described as “aggressive but clean.” Di Giannantonio said he studied Márquez’s precision — particularly through left-hand turns — and “picked up a lot of ideas” about how to tackle the Spaniard in future races. The result gave Ducati its first podium of the year in the longer main race and was particularly meaningful to Di Giannantonio because it came from direct on-track combat with such an accomplished rival.
The podium followed a difficult build-up: Di Giannantonio had taken pole on Saturday and finished second in the Sprint after two mistakes handed victory to Márquez, then suffered a heavy crash in Sunday morning Warm Up that badly damaged his Ducati Desmosedici. VR46 Ducati mechanics repaired the bike in time and Di Giannantonio started the shortened Grand Prix — which had been cut by eight laps, a decision he learned about roughly six minutes before the race — despite reporting left-shoulder pain and intermittent loss of concentration from impacts under hard braking. He managed the discomfort through the early laps, found a rhythm and climbed to the podium, leaving Brazil with two podiums overall.
The weekend exposed technical gaps as much as it showcased racecraft. Di Giannantonio credited a small setup change and his crew for lifting him among the best Ducatis on the grid, but warned Aprilia had an advantage on the slippery, deteriorating asphalt and said Ducati must work on front-end stability to carry more speed through corners. Márquez, who finished fourth after a front-end washout on a patch of peeling asphalt and early tire discomfort, acknowledged the strength of Aprilia’s package and elected to back off after his off to protect championship points. Di Giannantonio’s podium also shifted the Ducati pecking order: he left Brazil as the top Ducati rider in the standings, three points clear of Márquez and 19 points behind championship leader Marco Bezzecchi. The result underlined both the value of close wheel-to-wheel racing as a development ground and the technical issues teams will need to address going forward; Ducati’s season-long podium run had already been broken in Thailand, ending an uninterrupted streak that dated back to Silverstone 2021.
Dunlop Named Official Tire Partner for 2026 Bagger World Cup
Dunlop has been named the official tire supplier and technical partner for the inaugural 2026 Harley‑Davidson Bagger World Cup, a new MotoGP support series. The appointment marks Dunlop’s return to the MotoGP paddock after supplying Moto2 and Moto3 until 2024, and builds on the company’s bagger‑racing work with the Harley‑Davidson x Dynojet program in MotoAmerica, which secured the 2025 riders’ and teams’ titles. Dunlop will supply dedicated racing tires and provide full technical and trackside support across the series.
The World Cup will run six double‑header rounds (12 races) on selected MotoGP weekends: Circuit of the Americas (Mar 27–29), Mugello (May 29–31), Assen (Jun 26–28), Silverstone (Aug 7–9), MotorLand Aragón (Aug 28–30) and the Red Bull Ring (Sep 18–20). Dorna confirmed the championship in mid‑2025 following a strategic partnership between MotoGP and Harley‑Davidson in late 2024. The new series takes the calendar slot of the MotoE World Championship, which is shelved for 2026. No teams or riders have been named yet.
Competitors will race identical Harley‑Davidson Road Glide machines prepared by the Harley‑Davidson x Dynojet Factory Race Team, powered by Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee‑Eight 131 crate engines. The bikes are specified at roughly 280 kg, produce more than 200 hp, and can exceed 300 km/h. Dunlop will supply specific tire sizes (front 120/75 R17 and rear 200/65 R17), provide full on‑track tire service at each round, and administer a US$250,000 contingency prize fund with progressive payouts to the top ten finishers of each race plus a US$25,000 end‑of‑season champion bonus. Together, the factory‑prepared spec machines, integrated tire support, and substantial contingency program position the Bagger World Cup as a factory‑backed, high‑performance spec‑bike championship designed to showcase bagger racing on major international race weekends.
Trailing Aldeguer at Turn 1, Bagnaia crashes out on lap 11
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia’s Brazilian weekend was defined by two crashes and a DNF. A Q2 crash early in the weekend left him with a lower-grip backup Ducati and a compromised starting position (he qualified and started 11th).
In the shortened 23-lap Goiânia GP he crashed again on lap 11 while trailing Fermin Aldeguer at Turn 1 — the second crash of the weekend and his first DNF of the season.
After the race he said, “I was just trying to hang on; I couldn’t stay on the bike,” that he had been “trying to survive,” and that he felt “at the mercy of what the bike was doing.”
Yamaha link and Pramac deal set Toprak’s 2027 path
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, 29, is on a multi‑year transition from World Superbike to MotoGP, with his 2026–27 future shaped by overlapping agreements. He left WSBK after winning a third title and signed a two‑year MotoGP deal linked to Yamaha that begins in 2026, while remaining contracted to Pramac through the end of 2027. Sources say the presence of both a Yamaha‑linked factory arrangement and an existing Pramac seat creates the central overlap about where he will race in 2027.
The 2026 season is being presented as a transition year on and off track. Razgatlıoğlu made his MotoGP debut for Pramac at the Thailand Grand Prix, finishing 17th — third of four Yamahas and ahead only of teammate Jack Miller — in a weekend that featured strong Sprint pace but a last‑corner crash. Paddock observers said the Yamaha V4 package looked uncompetitive in that outing.
His manager, Kenan Sofuoğlu, told reporters there “could be interest” from factory Yamaha but he was “99% sure” Razgatlıoğlu would remain with Pramac in 2027; Pramac’s resistance to Honda’s attempt to sign him for 2026 has reinforced that position. Honda rider Luca Marini suggested Razgatlıoğlu may need until the 2027 season to be truly competitive and pointed to planned 2027 rule changes — 850cc engines, tighter aerodynamic limits and a ban on ride‑height devices — as factors that could affect adaptation. Those 2027 expectations are already affecting the rider market: Yamaha plans a largely new lineup for 2027 and has reportedly identified 2024 champion Jorge Martin as its preferred signing on a two‑year deal while it seeks his teammate. Reports say Yamaha views Razgatlıoğlu and Alex Rins as “far behind” in the race for a factory seat, even as Sofuoğlu and Yamaha describe an ongoing project aimed at improving the bike’s competitiveness for next year. With only one race contested so far this season, Razgatlıoğlu’s on‑track development and the team decisions that will shape his 2027 programme remain a developing story.