The remaining calendar
A postponed Qatar round has reshaped the end of the season. Lusail now sits in early November, creating a triple header with Phillip Island and Sepang, and Portimão and Valencia each move back a week.
| Round | Circuit | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Phillip Island | 23–25 Oct |
| Malaysia | Sepang | 30 Oct – 1 Nov |
| Qatar | Lusail | 6–8 Nov |
| Portugal | Portimão | 20–22 Nov |
| Valencia | Ricardo Tormo | 27–29 Nov |
The dates come from the official MotoGP calendar and Crash.net's report on the Qatar postponement. Late calendar changes are possible, so check the official site before you travel.
How the sponsorship got here
Gresini Racing announced BK8 News as its MotoGP title sponsor in February 2025 for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The team took the name BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, and the BK8 News name went on the Ducati bikes, rider suits, team kit, garage and transport. The partnership's first race was the 2025 Thai Grand Prix.
For 2026 the team presented its bikes on 31 January in Kuala Lumpur, ahead of pre-season testing at Sepang. It marked Gresini's 30th season in MotoGP's premier class. The livery stayed in Gresini's light blue, now deeper and flatter, and lost its chrome trim. That is the design in the photograph above.
What is confirmed for 2027, and what is not
On 2 July 2026, Gresini Racing confirmed that both of this year's riders depart after the final round, with two new riders signed for 2027. The statement keeps the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP name for next year, saying the essence of the team "will remain the same".
Not confirmed
Neither Gresini Racing nor BK8 has announced a sponsorship term beyond 2026. One report has claimed an extension to 2028, but the team's own news feed carries no such announcement, so we do not treat it as fact. Until one side confirms a new term, the BK8 News title deal on record ends with this season.
That distinction matters for the register. The team name for 2027 points to the partnership continuing, but a team name is not a contract. We list the deal as current through 2026 in the BK8 sponsorship register, and we will extend it when a dated announcement says so.
The other half of the motorsport picture
The end of the MotoGP season overlaps with the brand's first weeks in Formula One. On 1 October the Aston Martin Aramco team named BK8 News a Global Partner, with a stated term into 2027 and beyond. Our report on the Aston Martin Aramco deal covers what that announcement says and what it leaves open.