MotoGP’s European finale will ignite the Austrian Grand Prix, with KTM’s factory squad taking advantage of home‑turf support from Pol Espargaró and aiming for Pedro Acosta to lead the charge.
Home‑Team Hype and the Quest for the Podium
At the Red Bull Ring, KTM’s RC16 is expected to deliver strong lap times, yet the battle for victory will most likely feature Ducati and Aprilia. Ducati rider Marc Marquez, riding a string of recent wins, currently stands atop the standings, matching Aprilia’s Jorge Martin on points but edging ahead on countback thanks to more victories. Aprilia’s momentum has seen Jorge Martin poised to challenge Marquez for the championship lead.
Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi must recover from a setback that cost him a major result at Misano, leaving Italian riders jittery about their potential to finish on the podium at this event.
With this race, the season’s main European leg will conclude before the championship heads toward the Asia‑Pacific for the next five rounds, but Europe will host a final duology: back‑to‑back Grand Prix in Portugal and Valencia this November.
Session Timings by Time Zone
Friday, 18 Sep 2026 – Free Practice 1 (FP1)
- BST: 09:45 – 10:30
- CEST: 10:45 – 11:30
- ET: 04:45 – 05:30
- PT: 01:45 – 02:30
- AEST: 18:45 – 19:30
- JST: 17:45 – 18:30
- IST: 14:15 – 15:00
Practice (Fridays Session 2)
- BST: 14:00 – 15:00
- CEST: 15:00 – 16:00
- ET: 09:00 – 10:00
- PT: 06:00 – 07:00
- AEST: 23:00 – 00:00 (next day)
- JST: 22:00 – 23:00
- IST: 18:30 – 19:30
Saturday, 19 Sep – Free Practice 2 (FP2)
- BST: 09:10 – 09:40
- CEST: 10:10 – 10:40
- ET: 04:10 – 04:40
- PT: 01:10 – 01:40
- AEST: 18:10 – 18:40
- JST: 17:10 – 17:40
- IST: 13:40 – 14:10
Qualifying (Sat 19 Sep)
- BST: 09:50 – 10:30
- CEST: 10:50 – 11:30
- ET: 04:50 – 05:30
- PT: 01:50 – 02:30
- AEST: 18:50 – 19:30
- JST: 17:50 – 18:30
- IST: 14:20 – 15:00
Sprint (Sat 19 Sep)
- BST: 14:00
- CEST: 15:00
- ET: 09:00
- PT: 06:00
- AEST: 23:00
- JST: 22:00
- IST: 18:30
Race (Sun 20 Sep)
- BST: 13:00
- CEST: 14:00
- ET: 08:00
- PT: 05:00
- AEST: 22:00
- JST: 21:00
- IST: 17:30
How to Watch the Grand Prix
MotoGP operates its own on‑demand platform, the MotoGP Video‑Pass, which charges €139.99 annually for live coverage of practice, qualifying, and the Sprint, together with race highlights. In addition, several local broadcasters stream the event on their official websites, making a pay‑per‑view or subscription alternative available for fans worldwide.
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