Here is the thing about bringing two worlds together: usually, it remains just talk. But now, in a landmark moment for global motorsport, MotoGP is heading straight to the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2026 for an actual on-track demonstration. Four premier-class machines will hit the asphalt on Saturday, 24 October, running from 11:40am to 12:00pm CDT ahead of Free Practice 3. It all happens right in front of an expected crowd of more than 400,000 fans at Circuit of The Americas.
Let me tell you, these beasts are absolute monsters. We are talking about machines capable of speeds exceeding 225mph, lean angles of more than 60 degrees, and a deafening roar producing more than 130 decibels of noise. It marks the very first time MotoGP has been included during a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, bridging the gap even as the MotoGP World Championship competes concurrently in Australia that same weekend.
The speed, the sound and the performance of these bikes is something you have to experience in person, and I'm looking forward to sharing that with everyone in Austin.
The lineup handling these incredible machines in Austin is nothing short of brilliant. We will see MotoGP Hall of Fame inductee Dani Pedrosa (KTM), 2027 MotoGP rider and current WorldSBK World Champion Nicolo Bulega (Ducati), alongside MotoGP test riders Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha) and Lorenzo Savadori (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team). They are bringing the speed and sound directly to the fans, and yes, that includes a dedicated fan activation in the circuit Fan Zone all weekend long where all four motorcycles will be on display.
Teams and riders will be onsite from Thursday through Sunday, building serious momentum toward the 2027 Grand Prix of the United States, which returns to COTA from April 23-25, 2027. For Bulega—who is set to make the switch to compete in MotoGP next season as part of Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team—it is a taste of things to come.
"It's always special to ride a MotoGP bike at COTA, one of the most iconic circuits in the world," Dani Pedrosa said. "The speed, the sound and the performance of these bikes is something you have to experience in person, and I'm looking forward to sharing that with everyone in Austin."
Nicolo Bulega echoed that excitement, stating: "This is a fantastic opportunity to put MotoGP in front of one of the biggest crowds in world motorsport. The atmosphere at COTA is always incredible, and to ride a MotoGP bike in front of so many fans will be a special experience."
