MotoGP: Here’s What to Expect From the 2026 Thailand GP Season Opener

The 2026 MotoGP season will kick off at the Chang International Circuit with the Thailand GP, and the grid is going to look tighter than a Turn 1 squeeze on lap one. Five manufacturers will arrive with their latest prototype machines, and the gap between the front-runners could close up quicker than a soft rear tyre fading in the Buriram heat.

Marco Bezzecchi head into the opener as the man to beat after setting an all-time lap record in the final pre-season test. Meanwhile, the legend himself, Marc Marquez, will make his highly anticipated return with the factory Ducati team. The reigning World Champion will be bouncing back from a nasty right shoulder fracture suffered during the 2025 Indonesian Grand Prix, a stark reminder that a rider can win a title and still end up in a sling just a week later.

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Buriram’s heat and humidity will play their part as always, and one small mistake in these conditions can derail a race weekend before it truly begins. As season openers go, the 2026 Thailand GP looks ready to throw a proper challenge at the entire paddock from the first green light on Friday.

Aprilia

Aprilia Racing rolls in looking particularly sharp, with the RS-GP showing the kind of race-run consistency that makes rivals nervous. With Bezzecchi and other Aprilia riders now leading the charge, the team has four riders capable of fighting at the front. They’ve been playing with rear aero setups like they’re tuning fighter jets, giving them massive flexibility across the weekend.

Even the rookie sensation Ai Ogura has already matched the speed of the established names and finished second in the final pre-season test, giving Aprilia some serious strength in numbers.

Ducati

Ducati arrives with its usual depth and development plan. Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia have leaned toward refined 2025 aero parts for stability, proving that sometimes 'new' isn't always better. Marc Marquez has had a quiet test run after dealing with a minor stomach bug and a fall, but his race pace still looks strong.

With Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio adding more factory spec Desmosedicis to the pack, Ducati is like that one friend who says they didn't study for the exam but still tops the class. They always find a way to put multiple riders in the mix once the race gets messy.

KTM

Over at KTM, all eyes are on the Shark, Pedro Acosta. He has shown massive progress in race simulations and genuinely believes the RC16 has taken a step forward. The team is running two development paths, with Maverick Vinales on a specific 2025 package while the rest of the squad runs the latest evolution.

Acosta is playing it cool, claiming he won't fight for the victory straight away, but his single-lap speed suggests he’s hiding his true performance. In race pace, only Vinales has been close to him. If KTM nails the start, they might just ruin a few factory Ducati parties by the first corner.

Honda

Honda finally looks more stable, with Joan Mir, Luca Marini and Johann Zarco dragging the RC213V into respectable standings. The focus is now on consistency rather than big fixes. Though there is clear progress, but the gap to the front hasn't closed as much as HRC hoped.

The rear tyre required for the Buriram heat has highlighted a lingering lack of grip on corner exit. The bike still feels like a work in progress, a very fast, very expensive work in progress.

Yamaha

Yamaha begins a bold new era with its V4-powered YZR-M1. Right now, it’s not exactly a podium threat and suffers from a power deficit, but that was to be expected. You can’t build a brand-new engine concept and expect it to outrun a Ducati on day one, that’s like expecting a newborn to run a marathon.

Fabio Quartararo looked frustrated, while Toprak Razgatlıoglu is still adjusting to the demands of prototype bikes after his time on Superbikes. Thailand will be about data, not trophies. By Sunday evening, we’ll know who actually turned up ready for the 2026 MotoGP season and who still has homework left to do.