Moto-2 - Japanese Grand Prix
Japanese Grand Prix
Display & Timezone
Display & Timezone
Showing times for America/Denver
Timezone
America - Denver
1 - 3 Oct
Mobility Resort Motegi
Upcoming in Moto-2
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French Grand Prix
8 - 10 May
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Catalonia Grand Prix
15 - 17 May
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Italian Grand Prix
29 - 31 May
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Upcoming at Mobility Resort Motegi
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Japanese Grand Prix
Moto-3
1 - 3 Oct
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Japanese Grand Prix
MotoGP
1 - 3 Oct
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MOTEGI
Super GT
6 - 7 Nov
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Track Info
Mobility Resort Motegi (Twin Ring Motegi) - Motegi, Tochigi, Japan
Modern permanent circuit with both a road course and an oval - clockwise - heavy-braking hairpins, long acceleration zones and outstanding spectator facilities
When was the track built?
Conceived by Honda as a world-class test and race venue, the twin-layout complex broke ground in 1995 and opened on August 1, 1997. The road course meets FIA/FIM international standards and the egg-shaped oval brought top-tier American open-wheel racing to Japan. Ongoing facility upgrades, the Honda Collection Hall and an on-site hotel make Motegi a destination as well as a circuit.
When was its first race?
The site’s first race season began in 1997. MotoGP first visited in 1999 and has staged the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi continuously since 2004 (with pandemic gaps), while Super GT and Super Formula have been ever-presents. IndyCar raced the oval from 1998 to 2010 and used the road course in 2011 after earthquake damage to the speedway.
What's the circuit like?
- Stop-and-go precision: Motegi strings together long acceleration bursts and big brake zones. The T1 First Corner, the back-straight Hairpin and Victory Corner decide most passes.
- Mechanical grip matters: Traction off the slow corners is king. Teams chase stable rear platforms and strong drive without overheating rears late in stints.
- Reading the wind: The elevated setting can shift balance braking into T1 and through the mid-lap 90R complexes; small headwind/tailwind changes move the braking point.
- Benchmark pace: Super Formula race-lap record 1:31.422 showcases the layout’s ultimate speed; MotoGP race laps run mid-1:44s in dry conditions; IndyCar’s lone road-course visit produced 1:40 race laps.
Lap records and benchmarks (by series)
- Super Formula - race lap: 1:31.422 - Toshiki Oyu, Dallara SF19, 2021.
- MotoGP - race lap: 1:44.412 - Francesco Bagnaia, 2025 Japanese GP.
- IndyCar - race lap: 1:40.2453 - Giorgio Pantano, 2011 Indy Japan (road course).
- Super GT GT500 - race lap: 1:38.350 - Tadasuke Makino, 2022 Motegi GT 300 km.
- Oval - 1-lap track record (CART): 0:25.830 - Hélio Castroneves, 1999.
Why go?
Excellent sightlines and access, a compact infield and big-name events make Motegi a superb fan trip. You get heavy-braking duels into T1 and the Hairpin, tight strategy on tyres and fuel, and plenty of grandstands near prime overtakes. Add the Honda Collection Hall and on-site hotel and it’s an easy weekend to book and enjoy.
Where's the best place to watch?
- First Corner (T1): Starts, restarts and the heaviest braking on the lap - multiple lines, classic divebombs and switchbacks.
- Hairpin: End of the long back straight - decisive passes with great photo angles out of the braking zone.
- Victory Corner: Last-lap lunges before the run to the line and pit activity in full view.
- Grandstands overlooking the infield 90R complex: Watch traction and rotation decide who makes time between the big stops.
Not just MotoGP: headline series at Motegi
Super GT: Japan’s GT3/GT500 show brings packed fields and relentless traffic management into T1 and the Hairpin.
Super Formula: The fastest domestic single-seaters set the circuit’s outright pace and showcase aero through the mid-lap sweepers.
IndyCar history: Japan’s oval era climaxed with Danica Patrick’s 2008 victory - the first by a woman in IndyCar - a Motegi milestone.
Hotels & Accommodation
Japanese Grand Prix
1 - 3 Oct
Mobility Resort Motegi
Track Info
Mobility Resort Motegi (Twin Ring Motegi) - Motegi, Tochigi, Japan
Modern permanent circuit with both a road course and an oval - clockwise - heavy-braking hairpins, long acceleration zones and outstanding spectator facilities
When was the track built?
Conceived by Honda as a world-class test and race venue, the twin-layout complex broke ground in 1995 and opened on August 1, 1997. The road course meets FIA/FIM international standards and the egg-shaped oval brought top-tier American open-wheel racing to Japan. Ongoing facility upgrades, the Honda Collection Hall and an on-site hotel make Motegi a destination as well as a circuit.
When was its first race?
The site’s first race season began in 1997. MotoGP first visited in 1999 and has staged the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi continuously since 2004 (with pandemic gaps), while Super GT and Super Formula have been ever-presents. IndyCar raced the oval from 1998 to 2010 and used the road course in 2011 after earthquake damage to the speedway.
What's the circuit like?
- Stop-and-go precision: Motegi strings together long acceleration bursts and big brake zones. The T1 First Corner, the back-straight Hairpin and Victory Corner decide most passes.
- Mechanical grip matters: Traction off the slow corners is king. Teams chase stable rear platforms and strong drive without overheating rears late in stints.
- Reading the wind: The elevated setting can shift balance braking into T1 and through the mid-lap 90R complexes; small headwind/tailwind changes move the braking point.
- Benchmark pace: Super Formula race-lap record 1:31.422 showcases the layout’s ultimate speed; MotoGP race laps run mid-1:44s in dry conditions; IndyCar’s lone road-course visit produced 1:40 race laps.
Lap records and benchmarks (by series)
- Super Formula - race lap: 1:31.422 - Toshiki Oyu, Dallara SF19, 2021.
- MotoGP - race lap: 1:44.412 - Francesco Bagnaia, 2025 Japanese GP.
- IndyCar - race lap: 1:40.2453 - Giorgio Pantano, 2011 Indy Japan (road course).
- Super GT GT500 - race lap: 1:38.350 - Tadasuke Makino, 2022 Motegi GT 300 km.
- Oval - 1-lap track record (CART): 0:25.830 - Hélio Castroneves, 1999.
Why go?
Excellent sightlines and access, a compact infield and big-name events make Motegi a superb fan trip. You get heavy-braking duels into T1 and the Hairpin, tight strategy on tyres and fuel, and plenty of grandstands near prime overtakes. Add the Honda Collection Hall and on-site hotel and it’s an easy weekend to book and enjoy.
Where's the best place to watch?
- First Corner (T1): Starts, restarts and the heaviest braking on the lap - multiple lines, classic divebombs and switchbacks.
- Hairpin: End of the long back straight - decisive passes with great photo angles out of the braking zone.
- Victory Corner: Last-lap lunges before the run to the line and pit activity in full view.
- Grandstands overlooking the infield 90R complex: Watch traction and rotation decide who makes time between the big stops.
Not just MotoGP: headline series at Motegi
Super GT: Japan’s GT3/GT500 show brings packed fields and relentless traffic management into T1 and the Hairpin.
Super Formula: The fastest domestic single-seaters set the circuit’s outright pace and showcase aero through the mid-lap sweepers.
IndyCar history: Japan’s oval era climaxed with Danica Patrick’s 2008 victory - the first by a woman in IndyCar - a Motegi milestone.
