MotoGP 2027 Starts on 5 March: Buriram Opens the 850cc Era

• 2027 season opener: Grand Prix of Thailand at the Chang International Circuit, 5 to 7 March
• First race under the new technical regulations for the 2027 to 2031 cycle
• Third consecutive opener in Thailand, the 2026 race drew 228,228 spectators

MotoGP is using the 2026 summer break to put together next year’s race calendar. The first piece of the puzzle is now in place, and it is the most important one: the 2027 season begins in Thailand. That also settles when the new machines will be seen under race conditions for the first time. For the premier class this is more than a routine calendar entry, because the 2027 season moves the series to a completely new set of technical rules.

When does the 2027 MotoGP season start?

The 2027 MotoGP season starts from 5 to 7 March with the Grand Prix of Thailand in Buriram. It is the first Grand Prix of the 79th World Championship.

The date falls slightly later than in the current season, which already got under way in February. The series has not published any further race dates so far. The motorcycle World Championship has set itself an upper limit of 22 events per year.

The race is held at the Chang International Circuit. The track has only been on the calendar since 2018, but has firmly established itself since then. It has hosted the opener since 2025, and in 2027 will do so for the third year in a row.

What changes with the 850cc era?

The most striking point is engine capacity: instead of the previous 1,000 cubic centimetres, engines may only measure 850 cubic centimetres from 2027. The regulations go considerably further than that single figure, however.

According to sources close to the series, fully sustainable fuel will be used for the first time. Aerodynamics will be restricted, meaning the wings and add-on parts intended to press the bike onto the track. The ride-height devices will also disappear completely, those systems that allow riders to lower the bike at the push of a button in order to gain more drive off the line and when accelerating out of corners. The holeshot devices, which do exactly that at the start, will likewise be banned. On top of that comes a tyre change: Michelin will be replaced as supplier by Pirelli.

MotoGP is pursuing several goals at once with this. Racing is meant to become closer, costs are meant to fall, and the series’ ecological footprint is meant to shrink. How far the balance of power between the manufacturers will shift as a result is hard to gauge before the first race. Initial test runs with the new material have already taken place at Brno.

Why is Thailand opening the season for the third time?

Thailand took over the opening slot from Qatar in 2025 because the date there clashed with Ramadan. Buriram has proved itself as the season opener ever since.

The figures speak for the venue. At the 2026 opener, 228,228 spectators came to the circuit across the whole weekend, a record for the event. The weekend was memorable on track as well: Pedro Acosta won his first sprint on the Saturday, and on the Sunday Marco Bezzecchi came out on top on the Aprilia.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP Group, frames the renewed award as the result of a well-established partnership. In the official announcement he says: “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.” He goes on to say that Buriram has always delivered one of the best events on the calendar and is therefore the right place to usher in the new technical era.

What does preparation for the 2027 season look like?

The test phase begins in February 2027 with the official test at Sepang. The field then moves on to Buriram for the second and final test, around two weeks before the first race.

The series has not yet confirmed specific dates for these tests. According to media reports, the Season Launch is due to take place between the two events, meaning the joint presentation of all riders and teams. Rio de Janeiro is being discussed as the venue. That has not been confirmed so far. The format itself is still young: the premiere took place in Bangkok in 2025, followed by Kuala Lumpur in 2026.

The fact that the second test is held at the venue of the opening race has a practical advantage. Teams gather their final data on exactly the track where points will be scored two weeks later. In the first year of a new set of regulations that circumstance is likely to carry particular weight, because experience from previous years is only of limited help.

How does the 2027 calendar continue after Thailand?

The full 2027 calendar is still pending. So far only the opener in Buriram is certain.

According to media reports, several changes compared with the current season are emerging. Buenos Aires is set to be added as a second South American stop, although it remains open whether Argentina will be run before or after the Grand Prix of Brazil. The Grand Prix in Austin is said to be secure. The Grand Prix of Hungary at Balaton Park, by contrast, appears to be facing the axe because the contract is reportedly not going to be extended. For the Australian Grand Prix, Adelaide is being mooted as the new venue in place of Phillip Island.

The situation in Qatar is unclear. Renewed tensions in the Middle East have already raised doubts about whether the postponed Qatar Grand Prix in November 2026 can go ahead. Whether the series moves on to Europe after the race in Austin, or heads into the desert as in 2025, is therefore open.

Until the new era starts, the focus remains on the current 2026 season, in which a close title fight has developed. The confirmed opening date therefore mainly marks the beginning of the transition phase: while the championship is still being contested on track with the 1,000cc machines, work on the coming rulebook has long been under way in the development departments.

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