KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) --The heart of the federal capital was transformed into a high-octane street circuit tonight as thousands of motorsports fans gathered at the Petronas Twin Towers esplanade for the official launch of the 2026 MotoGP season.
In a historic first, the season launch was staged in Kuala Lumpur, positioning Malaysia as a global motorcycling hub ahead of the championship opener scheduled for late February.
The main event, which commenced at 7 pm, featured a parade of 20 elite riders, including reigning world champion Marc Marquez, his brother Alex Marquez, and two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia.
The riders showcased their high-performance machines along a 1.5kilometre (km) temporary circuit on the main arteries surrounding the Twin Towers, which were temporarily closed to traffic for the showcase.
Despite a light shower, spectators were treated to a demonstration that included motorcycle "stoppies" and the official unveiling of the 2026 rider line-ups and team liveries.
The event adopted a festival-like atmosphere, blending sports and entertainment with performances by an Irish pop rock band The Script, DJ Pawsa and local pop group DOLLA.
The 2026 MotoGP season is set to officially begin with the Thailand Grand Prix (GP) at the Chang International Circuit from Feb 27 to March 1.
Following the conclusion of the Sepang winter test last Thursday, teams will now head to Buriram, Thailand, for the final pre-season test scheduled for Feb 21 to 22.
The championship will return to Malaysia for the Malaysian GP at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from Oct 30 to Nov 1.
-- BERNAMA
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