Thailand Kickoff: Why Buriram is the perfect high-speed carnival to start the 2026 MotoGP Season

Forget the desert calm of Qatar or the clinical precision of European testing. For the second year in a row, the MotoGP World Championship kicks off the season at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand (February 27 – March 1). If you’re looking for a predictable season opener, you’re in the wrong place. Buriram is where logic goes out the window and chaos begins.

Buriram is a pressure cooker in early March. With track temperatures often soaring toward 50°C, the 2026 opener isn't just a race, it’s more of a survival test. While the 4.5km layout looks relatively simple on paper with its long straights and twelve turns, the technical complexity lies in the thermal management. Riders aren't just fighting each other. They’re fighting tyres that want to liquefy and brake discs that are glowing red by the time they hit the hairpins.

Buriram is famous for its stop-and-go nature. The massive straights favour the bikes the boast the biggest number of horses, but the final sector is a technical twist that rewards the brave. Expect the usual suspect Marc Márquez to be joined by wildcards who thrive in the swelter. And that final corner is a notorious glory or gravel zone, where last-lap lunges are the local specialty.

But what truly makes Thailand the perfect kickoff is the atmosphere. With over 220,000 fans expected to flood the grandstands, the energy is unmatched. In a season defined by the final year of the current technical regulations, starting in a place this vibrant, and with a roaring Thai crowd, will ensure the 2026 campaign begins with a bang.