Macau GP 2026 Schedule: All Start Times in German Time

• Race: Saturday, 21 November, 9:10 a.m. local time (2:10 a.m. CET), twelve laps
• Hickman (BMW) is chasing win number five, Ron Haslam has six, Michael Rutter nine
• MANN-FILTER enters motorcycle racing for the first time as co-sponsor

From 19 to 22 November, Macau turns into a race track once again. The 73rd Macau Grand Prix runs on the roughly 6.2-kilometre Guia Circuit, a street circuit lined by walls and high-rise buildings, and the motorcycle race is on the programme there for the 58th time. 20 riders from nine nations have received an invitation. Anyone following the action from Germany will need stamina above all: Macau is seven hours ahead of Central European Time, and the motorcycles run there early in the morning.

When does the Macau GP 2026 start in German time?

The race starts on Saturday, 21 November, at 9:10 a.m. local time, which is 2:10 a.m. in Germany. The time slot for the race runs until 10 a.m. local time, i.e. until 3 a.m. German time.

Twelve laps are scheduled. At around 6.2 kilometres per lap, that adds up to about 74 kilometres. Because the Guia Circuit is made up of public roads, it is closed at 6 a.m. local time on every event day and reopened to traffic at 6 p.m. Within that window, the motorcycles only get short sessions of 20 to 30 minutes early in the morning, before the race on Saturday is given almost an hour.

The schedule at a glance

All times in CET, local time in Macau in brackets.

Thursday, 19 November:

• 0:45 to 1:15 a.m.: Free practice (7:45 to 8:15 a.m.)
• 1:25 to 1:55 a.m.: First qualifying (8:25 to 8:55 a.m.)

Friday, 20 November:

• 0:45 to 1:15 a.m.: Free practice (7:45 to 8:15 a.m.)
• 1:25 to 1:55 a.m.: Second qualifying (8:25 to 8:55 a.m.)

Saturday, 21 November:

• 0:10 to 0:30 a.m.: Warm-up (7:10 to 7:30 a.m.)
• 2:10 to 3:00 a.m.: Twelve-lap race (9:10 to 10:00 a.m.)

This means that, in Germany, all motorcycle sessions take place during the nights from Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday to Friday and Friday to Saturday.

How close can Peter Hickman get to Ron Haslam’s record?

A win on Saturday would take Peter Hickman to five victories in Macau, leaving him just one win behind Ron Haslam. The record, however, is held by Michael Rutter with nine wins, and Hickman would still be four short of him even then.

Hickman has so far won in Macau in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2023. Haslam took his six wins between 1981 and 1987 and won every time he started in Macau; he only missed 1984. Rutter spread his nine victories over the years 1998 to 2019.

The 14-time TT winner starts with number 88 on a BMW M1000RR from Zeeco BMW by 8TEN Racing and goes into the race as clear favourite. Last year he came back from an injury at the TT and finished second in Macau behind Davey Todd. Todd, winner in 2024 and 2025, does not meet the entry requirements this time, and Erno Kostamo, who won in 2022, is not riding himself either. 8TEN Racing is therefore represented in Macau by Hickman alone.

Why is MANN-FILTER getting involved in the Macau GP?

MANN-FILTER is supporting Hickman, his team 8TEN Racing and BMW Motorrad in Macau as co-sponsor. For the German company, which specialises in filtration technology, it is its first involvement in motorcycle racing.

Sponsoring manager Filippina Manou describes Macau as an exciting new beginning for the brand. She sums up the step onto two wheels like this: “Motorcycle racing is new territory for us.” She hopes the partnership with Hickman will bring new experiences. She also speaks of respect for the courage and performance of the riders and of a shared passion for German engineering.

Who wants to reach the podium in Macau for the first time?

Among the riders still waiting for their first podium finish in Macau are Maurizio Bottalico, Paul Jordan and Rob Hodson. All three are familiar faces from the TT, and for Bottalico a top-three place is considered a realistic target this time.

Bottalico has made a name for himself above all as a multiple hillclimb champion, but now also races at the TT and the North West 200. On his debut on the Guia Circuit last year, the Italian finished sixth, making him the best newcomer in the field. This time he rides a BMW M1000RR from RVS Motorsport. The team is run by Erno Kostamo and also fields Austrian Julian Trummer.

Jordan and Hodson, on the other hand, are on Honda. Jordan rides a CBR1000RR-R for Jackson Racing/Crowe Performance, while Hodson competes for SMT Racing and won a race at the Classic TT 2026.

In total, the 20 grid slots are shared among four brands: nine riders are on a BMW, eight on a Honda, two on a Yamaha R1 and one on a Kawasaki ZX-10RR. Six riders are competing in Macau for the first time, including Fedrik Matthys, the first champion of the European Series Road Racing.

The motorcycle race in the programme of the 73rd Grand Prix week

The motorcycle race is one of seven races held on the Guia Circuit during Grand Prix week. On the car side, the focus is on the FIA FR World Cup, in which young single-seater drivers compete. It is joined by the FIA GT World Cup, a round of the TCR World Tour and the FIA F4 World Cup, among others.

Motorcycles have been part of the programme since 1967. Back then, the first race ran over 30 laps and lasted almost two hours; today the result is decided in a single twelve-lap race.

Frequently Asked Questions

➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: Isle of Man TT 2026: The Complete Overview – Schedule, Riders, Teams & Results. Find all key information on this topic in one place.