September 2, 2026: MotoGP has confirmed the full pre-season testing calendar for 2027, marking the start of a new era for the championship as riders switch to all-new 850cc machinery. The season will build up through a series of tests in Malaysia and Thailand before an official Season Launch on Rio de Janeiro’s Botafogo Beach, ahead of the opening race weekend at Buriram in Thailand.

First Look at the New Era: Valencia Test on December 1, 2026

Before the 2027 calendar even begins, teams and riders will get their first taste of the new 850cc era at the Valencia Test on December 1, 2026. This session will mark the first time the new rider line-ups take to the track on their all-new machinery, offering an early glimpse of how the sport’s next generation of bikes will perform.

Shakedown and Sepang Tests: January 29 – February 1

Pre-season testing proper begins in Malaysia with the Shakedown Test at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, running from January 29–30, 2027. This session is reserved for factory test riders and rookies, giving teams an early opportunity to fine-tune their new-era bikes.

It is followed immediately by the Sepang Test, the first official test of the season open to all riders, held over two days from January 31 to February 1, 2027. Each 2027 test event will run for two days, a format used across the pre-season calendar this year.

Buriram Test: February 6–7

The paddock then travels to Thailand for the second official test of the pre-season, the Buriram Test, scheduled for February 6–7, 2027. This session gives teams a final opportunity to prepare their setups on a circuit that will also host the season’s opening race.

Season Launch Moves to Rio de Janeiro’s Botafogo Beach

For 2027, MotoGP’s official Season Launch shifts to South America, with Botafogo Beach in Rio de Janeiro hosting the flagship event on February 21, 2027. The iconic beachfront setting gives the new season a striking backdrop as MotoGP brings its launch event to one of the world’s most recognisable cities for the first time.

2027 MotoGP Pre-Season Test Schedule at a Glance

• Shakedown Test: January 29–30
• Sepang Test: January 31 – February 1
• Buriram Test: February 6–7
• Season Launch (Rio de Janeiro): February 21

First Race of the Season: Thai GP at Buriram, March 5–7

Following the Season Launch, the 2027 championship gets underway with the Thai Grand Prix at Buriram, taking place from March 5 to 7, 2027 — marking the first competitive race weekend of the new 850cc era.

Moto2 and Moto3 Pre-Season Testing Confirmed at Jerez

Pre-season testing for the Moto2 and Moto3 support classes has also been confirmed, with all sessions taking place at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto in Spain. Moto2 will have one private test and one official test, while Moto3 will run a single official test.

• Moto2 Private Test: February 16–17
• Moto3 Official Test: February 18–19
• Moto2 Official Test: February 20–21

With the new era’s testing calendar now locked in, all eyes turn to Valencia in December for the first on-track glimpse of MotoGP’s next-generation 850cc machines.