The MotoGP championship adjusted its late-season calendar after the Qatar Grand Prix originally set for April 10-12 was postponed and later rescheduled to November 6-8, creating knock-on changes to the end of the 2026 season in Qatar and Spain.
These moves matter because the disruption affected the timing of the Portuguese Grand Prix and the Valencian Grand Prix the viability of the Qatar round amid Middle East tensions, and the traditional post-season testing window in December with implications for teams preparing for the new technical era.
Qatar Grand Prix schedule and regional context
The Qatar Grand Prix was first set for April 10-12 but was postponed to November 6-8 amid continuing instability in the Middle East. Organisers moved the race to accommodate security and logistical concerns, and the rescheduling prompted a reassessment of the event’s feasibility as other championships revised their Middle Eastern rounds.
With the Qatar slot now uncertain, officials have considered canceling the round entirely if conditions did not permit a safe event. That uncertainty has left the November 6-8 window in flux and prompted contingency planning across the paddock ahead of the final rounds.
Impact on Portuguese Grand Prix and Valencian Grand Prix
To make room for Qatar’s rescheduled date, the Portuguese Grand Prix was moved to November 22 and the Valencian Grand Prix to November 29. If the Qatar round is ultimately removed, those two races could revert to their original dates, though organisers warned that reverting calendar slots would be operationally complex.
The shift also affected the customary end-of-season testing day, which under the current timetable would fall on December 1. Teams expressed concern that a test on that colder date could complicate tyre performance and data gathering, particularly for manufacturers developing new hardware for the upcoming seasons.
CFMoto’s progression and technical developments
While calendar uncertainties unfolded, CFMoto continued to advance its racing strategy, emphasising a methodical entry into top-tier competition via World Superbike before a full MotoGP move. Jorge “Aspar” Martinez, head of the Aspar Team underlined the focus on production-based racing as the manufacturer readied its superbike programme.
CFMoto has been developing the V4 SR-RR, a production superbike with a 997cc engine and above 210 hp planned for release in 2027. The bike includes features such as a backward-rotating crankshaft and electronically controlled winglets intended to improve handling and adaptability, a strategy aimed at competitiveness in World Superbike prior to any MotoGP entry.
Complementing its engine and chassis work, CFMoto purchased a 51% stake in German chassis specialist Kalex a move intended to bolster technical knowledge transfer between racing and production programmes and to support the manufacturer’s long-term ambitions.
Looking ahead: Thailand opener and the 850cc era
Teams and manufacturers are also preparing for the broader transition into the 2027 technical era. The season opener at Chang International Circuit in Thailand has been confirmed to start the 2027 campaign on March 5-7, 2027, marking the launch of the new 850cc rules. CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta said, “Hosting the MotoGP season opener for a third consecutive year is a testament to the outstanding partnership we have built in Thailand and the incredible passion of the fans. Buriram has consistently delivered one of the best events on our calendar, making it the perfect venue to launch MotoGP’s new technical era.”
As the 2026 season progressed, on-track results and the compressed calendar left the championship in a tightly contested state, with multiple riders separated by narrow point margins as teams balanced racing priorities with the engineering demands of the coming rule changes.
Ultimo aggiornamento: 5 agosto 2026
