MotoGP extends Malaysian GP at Sepang through 2031
NXTbets Pro | Published On: July 1, 2026
Sepang extension secured
MotoGP has locked in the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang through the 2031 season after reaching a new agreement with the Government of Malaysia. The five-year extension covers 2027 through 2031 and was officially confirmed after the Malaysian Cabinet approved the renewal on April 15, 2026. The deal keeps one of the championship’s most established stops on the calendar and extends a race history that began in 1991, when the Malaysian Grand Prix was first staged at Shah Alam. The event later moved to Sepang in 1999 and has also been held at Johor in earlier editions. Sepang now stays in place as a core part of MotoGP’s long-term plans, giving the championship continuity in a market that has supported the series for more than three decades. The renewal also adds stability for a venue that has become closely tied to the Malaysian round’s identity, both as a race location and as a central hub for MotoGP’s operations in Southeast Asia. The agreement keeps the event at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, where the Malaysian Grand Prix has built its modern profile since the move from Shah Alam.
Malaysia cites benefits
Malaysia’s sports minister said the renewal will support tourism, hospitality, transportation, small and medium-sized enterprises and local motorsports talent development. The comments point to the race’s broader role beyond the track, with the Malaysian Grand Prix serving as a yearly draw for visitors and a source of activity for several parts of the local economy. MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta also stressed the value of the deal, saying Malaysia has a large fan base and remains an important market that provides economic value to the championship. That support has been visible in the numbers at the circuit. The 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix drew 190,977 spectators, a record attendance for the event. That turnout reinforced Sepang’s place as one of MotoGP’s strongest venues for crowd support and market reach. The new extension keeps that momentum intact and gives organizers a long runway to build on it. The Malaysian round has already shown it can deliver both strong attendance and wider commercial impact, and the latest agreement keeps those benefits in play through the early part of the next decade.
Sepang stays busy
Sepang’s place in MotoGP extends well beyond race weekend. The circuit remains a key venue for shakedown testing, official pre-season testing and private testing activity, which makes it one of the series’ most useful stops on the calendar. That role gives the track added importance in the championship’s annual rhythm, since riders and teams use it to prepare for the season and refine their packages. MotoGP has also shifted its 2026 season launch to Kuala Lumpur, adding another Malaysia-centered milestone to the buildup around the championship’s next campaign. The Malaysian MotoGP itself is scheduled for October 30 to November 1 at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, keeping the event in its familiar late-year slot. With the race, testing and season launch all tied to Malaysia, the country continues to hold a prominent place in MotoGP’s plans. The new agreement through 2031 ensures that Sepang remains part of that picture for years to come, preserving a venue that has mattered to the championship since the Malaysian Grand Prix first joined the series in 1991.
