- Liberty Media is looking into demonstration runs by MotoGP machines at the Formula 1 race in Austin from 23 to 25 October 2026
- The Australian GP at Phillip Island takes place on exactly the same weekend, which is why the regular riders are not available
- It is still unclear who will cover the cost of transporting the bikes and the personnel
Liberty Media holds the commercial rights to both series, to Formula 1 and to MotoGP. That makes one idea obvious, an idea many motorsport fans have been voicing for years: experiencing both championships on the same weekend at the same circuit. According to media reports, the rights holder is now working on a first step in that direction, albeit on a smaller scale than many had hoped for.
What is MotoGP planning at the Formula 1 race in Austin?
The plan is for demonstration runs by MotoGP machines during the Formula 1 weekend at the Circuit of the Americas. The exact slot within the weekend has not been fixed yet.
The Formula 1 race in Austin is scheduled for 23 to 25 October 2026. The thinking behind it is simple: spectators in the grandstands get to experience the motorcycle world championship up close without having to buy a separate ticket for a second weekend. For MotoGP it is a promotional appearance in front of an audience that is already devoted to motorsport.
The Circuit of the Americas is familiar ground for the series. MotoGP already held its own race there on 29 March 2026, the third of 22 rounds this season. Marco Bezzecchi won ahead of Jorge Martín and Pedro Acosta. An appearance in October would therefore be the series’ second visit to Austin within a single year.
Why are the regular riders not racing in Austin?
The current MotoGP riders cannot take part because the Grand Prix of Australia at Phillip Island takes place on the same weekend. The FIM has set that date for 23 to 25 October 2026, exactly parallel to the Formula 1 race in Texas.
Moving either date is out of the question for both sides. That leaves only one solution: the Austin appearance has to work without the active grid. An early draft envisaged putting former riders of the respective manufacturers or teams on the bikes. That has not been settled yet, though; according to media reports the details are still being worked out.
What are MotoGP show bikes?
Show bikes are fully functional display machines based on current or older prototypes from the respective manufacturers. They are ready to run and therefore suitable for demonstration laps, unlike pure static models.
That is a noticeable difference from previous practice. For promotional appearances most teams have so far fallen back on production motorcycles that were merely painted in MotoGP livery. It looked right, but technically it had little to do with a genuine prototype.
This is exactly what the new contracts between the promoter and the teams address. In them every participant commits to keeping operational MotoGP prototypes available that can be used for precisely such appearances. The plan for Austin is therefore one of the first practical applications of that rule.
Which questions remain open before the appearance?
The main unresolved issue is cost. It has not been settled who pays for transporting the bikes and the required personnel.
The MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, which runs the championship’s commercial and promotional business, has already opened talks with the manufacturers. At this stage those talks are about their basic willingness to take part. Within the series the project is regarded as an important building block in the strategy of expanding the presence in the United States. Both the promoter and the manufacturers see it, according to sources close to the matter, as a sensible opportunity to grow the fan base in a key market. The finer points are still being negotiated.
The background: what Liberty Media has in mind for both series
Ever since Liberty Media completed its takeover of Dorna, the paddock has been speculating about joint formats. A MotoGP appearance as part of a Formula 1 weekend would be the most concrete expression of those considerations so far.
The United States is a difficult market for the motorcycle world championship. The series has a fixed slot on the calendar there, but its reach does not come close to Formula 1, which regularly draws six-figure crowds in Austin. A guest appearance in front of that audience is therefore less a sporting project than a promotional one.
Why is Phillip Island losing the race after 2026?
The contract for the Australian GP at Phillip Island expires at the end of 2026 and will not be renewed. The sticking point was the rights holder’s wish to move the race to Melbourne’s Albert Park.
The government of the state of Victoria refused. Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos explained that every other demand had been met. “We met the licence fee. We met everything else.” According to him, the final demand was to relocate the event to the city, and the government was not prepared to do that. He also pointed to around 91,000 spectators the previous year, by his account the best figure in 13 years.
The circuit itself is popular with riders and fans alike. The 4.45-kilometre track right by the sea has five right-hand and seven left-hand corners and ranks among the fastest on the calendar. The infrastructure draws criticism, among other things the pit buildings are considered too small and outdated. The October race brings an era to a close that began in 1989 with Wayne Gardner’s win and has continued almost without interruption since 1997. Only in 2020 and 2021 was the event cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Where the Australian GP will go from 2027 has not been officially confirmed. Sources close to the promoter say Adelaide is set to become the new home, with the Motorsport Park The Bend around 100 kilometres south of the city under discussion. The Adelaide street circuit itself would be unlikely to meet the safety requirements of the motorcycle world championship.
Will there be a joint Formula 1 and MotoGP race weekend?
Not in the short term. There have been talks about a joint event at management level, but there are currently no concrete plans for a combined Grand Prix.
The planned appearance in Austin should therefore be seen as a trial balloon. It shows what is organisationally possible when both series share the same rights holder, and where the limits are. The calendar is the biggest obstacle. As long as dates clash, a genuine double weekend remains difficult.
Frequently asked questions
-
When does the 2026 Formula 1 race in Austin take place?
The United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas runs from 23 to 25 October 2026. The MotoGP machines are due to complete their demonstration laps on that weekend.
-
Will MotoGP hold a real race in Austin?
No. Only demonstration laps as part of the Formula 1 weekend are planned. The series already held its own race at the Circuit of the Americas on 29 March 2026.
-
Who is set to ride the machines in Austin?
That has not been decided yet. An initial draft envisaged former riders of the manufacturers and teams involved, because the active riders are competing in Australia at the same time.
-
Why is 2026 the last MotoGP race at Phillip Island?
The contract expires at the end of 2026. The rights holder wanted to move the event to Melbourne, and the government of Victoria refused. From 2027 the Australian GP is expected to switch to South Australia.
