How to Watch MotoGP Thailand: Your Ultimate Guide

Some circuits host a race. MotoGP Thailand at Chang International Circuit hosts an event. There is a difference, and it’s one that becomes clear the moment you arrive in Buriram for race weekend.

The city fills weeks before qualifying. Flights from Bangkok book up months in advance. Its most famous hotel — the Amari, two minutes’ walk from the pit lane — sells out even earlier. In a province that most of the world has never heard of, a world championship motorcycle race draws more than 220,000 spectators across the weekend, thousands of them from overseas, to watch the fastest motorcycles on the planet navigate 4.554 kilometres of Hermann Tilke-designed tarmac in the flat agricultural heartland of Northeast Thailand.

If you’ve been thinking about attending MotoGP Thailand, this is everything you need to know.

Chang International Circuit

Chang International Circuit is the full name, though most people call it Chang Circuit after the Thai beer brand that sponsors it commercially. Whatever you call it, the facility is extraordinary for where it is.

Designed by Hermann Tilke — the architect behind a significant proportion of the modern Grand Prix calendar — the circuit opened in October 2014. At the time, it became the first FIM Grade A and FIA Grade 1 certified circuit in Thailand. At a cost of THB 2 billion and with a capacity of 100,000 spectators (50,000 in grandstands, 50,000 on the natural berm and open areas), it was built to international specification from the ground up, not retrofitted.

The layout runs to 4.554 kilometres with 12 turns — seven right-handers and five left. It is a technical circuit: the back section has a flowing sequence of medium-speed corners that rewards precision, while the long main straight provides genuine overtaking opportunities under braking into Turn 3. In the dry Buriram heat, tyre management across a race distance is rarely straightforward.

MotoGP first visited in 2018. Almost immediately, it was a success — the Thai crowd took to the sport with an intensity that surprised even experienced paddock observers — 800,000 fans attended across the first four MotoGP events. The contract now runs until at least 2031, and since 2025 MotoGP Thailand has opened the World Championship season, making Buriram the first race of the year.

The circuit hosts much more than MotoGP — from the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship and BRIC Superbike rounds to the World Athletics Gold Label Buriram Marathon. For a complete guide to every event at the circuit, see our Chang International Circuit guide.

The Thunder Castle Complex

Chang Circuit does not sit in isolation. Together with the adjacent Chang Arena — known as the Thunder Castle, home of Buriram United FC — it forms one of the most unusual sporting campuses in the world.

Immediately adjacent to the circuit is Chang Arena, home stadium of Buriram United FC, the most successful club in Thai football history. A 32,600-seat stadium, purpose-built and architecturally striking, sitting within a kilometre of the pit lane. On a weekend when neither football nor motorsport is scheduled, the complex is a remarkable thing to look at. On a MotoGP weekend, when both facilities are operational and the Amari hotel between them is at capacity, the scale of what has been built here — in Buriram province, in Isaan — is genuinely astonishing.

The Amari Buriram United hotel completes the picture. Sitting between the stadium and the circuit, it is the only accommodation in the world where you can walk to a MotoGP race and a top-tier football match from the same room.

When Is the MotoGP Thailand Race?

Since 2025, MotoGP Thailand has been the season-opening round of the World Championship — typically held in late February or early March. The 2025 race ran on 2 March; the 2026 race on 1 March. The 2027 race weekend is Friday 5 to Sunday 7 March, again the season opener.

For those planning ahead: check the official MotoGP calendar at motogp.com for confirmed dates. The season opener slot means the Thailand race is consistently one of the most-anticipated rounds of the year — early season, fresh machinery, no established championship hierarchy. The racing is usually unpredictable.

A sprint race (Saturday) and the full Grand Prix (Sunday) are now standard across all MotoGP rounds. Qualifying runs on Friday and Saturday. If you’re attending for the weekend, Thursday is worth arriving for — pitlane walk and practice sessions begin, and the atmosphere in the paddock and fan zones builds quickly.

MotoGP Thailand: Recent Race History

MotoGP Thailand 2025: Marc Márquez (Ducati Gresini) dominated — pole position, fastest lap, and victory. A statement result from the eight-time world champion in what was the opening round of his tenure with the factory-supported team. Francesco Bagnaia finished third; Ducati occupied the entire podium.

MotoGP Thailand 2026: Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) won from Pedro Acosta (second) and Raúl Fernández (third) — with no Ducati on the podium for the first time since the 2021 British Grand Prix, ending an 88-race consecutive podium streak. A landmark result for Aprilia, and a sign of how quickly the competitive order can shift.

In just two races, Buriram has already produced the kind of moments that circuits take decades to accumulate.

Looking ahead: from 2027, MotoGP moves to a new 850cc engine formula. Buriram is on the calendar through 2031, and because it opens the 2027 season on 5–7 March, it will host the first-ever 850cc Grand Prix — a significant footnote for a circuit that only opened in 2014.

MotoGP Thailand Tickets

Tickets for the 2027 race go on sale on Monday 9 November 2026 at 14:00 Thai time. Every race ticket is a three-day pass covering Friday 5 to Sunday 7 March 2027. These are the prices for the Thai sale, as announced by Chang Circuit Buriram in October 2026:

A free extra: a race ticket bought in the Thai sale also gets you into the official pre-season test on 6–7 February 2027, on both days (VIP areas excluded). More on the test below.

Where to buy:

• In Thailand: through All Ticket, online at allticket.com or at the Counter Service All Ticket counter in any 7-Eleven.
• From abroad: the official international site, motogpthailand.com, lists the 2027 grandstands as “coming soon” but had no prices when we checked on 24 October 2026. MotoGP also sells hospitality packages at tickets.motogp.com, at a higher price.

General admission: in past years there has been a cheaper general admission ticket for the open grass banks (the berm) around the circuit, with no reserved seat. The 2027 Thai announcement does not list one, so check when tickets go on sale.

Practical advice: book on the first day if you can. The main Grandstand sells out first, and Buriram’s hotels fill up as soon as people have tickets.

The Buriram Test: MotoGP for 500 Baht

A month before the race, the whole MotoGP grid comes to Buriram for the official pre-season test on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February 2027. It is the last test before the season opener and the first time the new 850cc bikes run at Chang Circuit. In earlier years the test was held in the days just before the race; for 2027 the teams asked for it to be moved earlier, to give them more time to work on the new bikes.

If you only want to watch the test, tickets cost 500 THB a day or 900 THB for both days in the Grandstand, or 5,000 THB a day for VIP, which includes food and Chang drinks. It is the cheapest way to see MotoGP bikes on track in Thailand, and Buriram is far quieter in February than on race weekend, so hotels are much easier to find. Our Buriram MotoGP test guide has everything you need for the test weekend, from session times to hotels.

Where to Stay

Accommodation for MotoGP weekend follows a simple rule: book early or accept a significant compromise.

Amari Buriram United

The obvious choice, and for good reason. Amari Buriram United sits within the Thunder Castle complex — Chang Circuit is approximately one kilometre from the hotel entrance, and Chang Arena is two minutes on foot. On race weekend, you walk to the circuit, walk back, and never need to think about transport. Post-race, you’re already home while the rest of the crowd queues for taxis.

In terms of facilities and service, it’s standard Amari — a step above the typical Thai provincial hotel. On MotoGP weekend, the atmosphere in the complex is unlike anything else in the region.

However, the trade-off: it sells out months in advance for race weekends, and prices during MotoGP are significantly higher than standard rates. If you’re planning to stay here, booking the moment race dates are announced is not an exaggeration.

Check availability at Amari Buriram United →

City Centre Hotels

If the Amari is sold out or over budget, Buriram city centre is approximately 4 kilometres from Chang Circuit. Mid-range options — Crystal Hotel, Fortune Hotel, Buritel — are well-reviewed, comfortable, and considerably cheaper than Amari rates. The trade-off is the need to sort transport to the circuit, which on race day requires planning.

That said, on MotoGP weekend, city centre hotels also fill quickly. Budget around 1,000–2,500 baht per night for mid-range, but expect premium pricing during race weekend across all categories.

Check hotel availability in Buriram →

Don Mueang Night Before

If you’re flying in from Bangkok, the Amari Don Mueang is connected directly to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) by a covered walkway — useful for an early morning flight to Buriram the day before the race. See our full accommodation guide for more detail on both Amari properties.

For a dedicated guide to accommodation for MotoGP weekend — every option from BRIC Box to local guesthouses — see our MotoGP Thailand hotels guide. For the full Buriram accommodation picture outside race weekends, see our Where to Stay in Buriram guide.

Getting to Buriram

By air is the practical choice for most international and Bangkok-based visitors. Thai AirAsia operates direct flights to Buriram Airport (BFV) from both Don Mueang (DMK) and Suvarnabhumi (BKK) — approximately one hour from either. Services from Don Mueang run around 14 times per week; the Suvarnabhumi service runs three times weekly. Additional flights are added for race weekend across multiple services — seats fill fast and fares rise sharply as the date approaches. Book as soon as your dates are confirmed. Buriram Airport’s new terminal opened in early 2026, significantly improving facilities and capacity — a direct result of the province’s growing profile as a motorsport destination.

Check flight availability to Buriram for MotoGP →

By train from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal takes between about 5½ and 7½ hours, depending on the train, and is an excellent option for those who want a more scenic, relaxed journey. First-class sleeper overnight is comfortable; book through 12go.asia or the State Railway of Thailand directly.

Find Bangkok to Buriram trains and buses at 12Go →

For the complete breakdown of all transport options — bus, car, train, and flying — see our Getting to Buriram transport guide.

Getting to the Circuit

Chang Circuit sits approximately 4 kilometres southwest of Buriram city centre. If you’re staying at the Amari, you walk. If you’re in the city, you need transport.

On race day, songthaews (covered pickup trucks operating as shared taxis) typically run informal shuttle routes to the circuit from the city centre — cheap and effective, though they fill quickly in the hours before the race. Agree a fare before you get in.

Taxis are available but not metered. On race weekend, demand significantly exceeds supply in the hours before racing. Agree a fare in advance; 80–150 baht from the city centre is a reasonable range for a normal journey, though prices rise on race day. Booking transport back after the race is harder than getting there — plan accordingly.

Hired car: if you’re exploring the province for several days around the race — Phanom Rung, the city, the wider countryside — hiring a car on arrival gives you flexibility that songthaews can’t. Compare car hire at Buriram Airport →

On Race Day — What to Expect

Weather in late February/early March: Buriram is in the dry season. Expect temperatures of 30–35°C by midday with direct sun. Cloud cover is limited. This is not a race in European conditions.

What to bring:

• Sunscreen — essential, not optional
• Hat and sunglasses
• Water (you can bring sealed bottles into the circuit; the queues at circuit vendors on race day can be long)
• Earplugs — even at distance, MotoGP bikes at full throttle are loud. At the grandstands, they are very loud.
• Comfortable shoes — the general admission areas involve walking across uneven ground
• Small bag or daypack — for water, sunscreen, camera

Fan zones and facilities: The circuit has an official fan zone with merchandise, food vendors, and screens. The fan shop sells official MotoGP and team merchandise. Arrive early for the best selection.

Connectivity: Mobile coverage at the circuit is good in normal conditions. On race weekend, with up to 100,000 people on race day, networks become congested. A local SIM or eSIM loaded with Thai data helps with coverage during busy periods. Don’t rely on data for critical communications at peak times.

Get a Thailand eSIM before you arrive →

Travel insurance: Sort this before you leave home. You’re travelling internationally, attending a high-energy event in 35°C heat, and potentially hiring a car to explore the province. Making sure you have cover for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, and lost luggage is straightforward — and a lot easier to arrange before you’re at the airport.

Considering travel insurance for your trip? Get a travel insurance quote for Thailand — World Nomads covers more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, and trip cancellation.

For flexible monthly cover from around $63, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is popular with longer-stay visitors and digital nomads across Southeast Asia.

Beyond the Race

Meanwhile, Buriram repays time beyond the circuit. A few options worth building around race weekend:

Phanom Rung — a Khmer temple complex built on the summit of an extinct volcano, about 75 kilometres from the city by road. One of the finest examples of Khmer architecture outside Cambodia, and almost entirely devoid of the crowds that make Angkor Wat difficult to enjoy. If you have a day either side of the race, this is worth the drive. Read our complete Phanom Rung guide.

Buriram United FC — if your timing allows for a Thai league match at Chang Arena, the football experience is genuinely enjoyable: cheap tickets, passionate Thai fans, and a stadium that genuinely creates atmosphere. See our guide to Buriram United.

The city itself — Buriram is a small, manageable Thai provincial city with good food, a relaxed pace, and none of the tourist infrastructure that homogenises bigger Thai destinations. The night market, the local restaurants along the main roads, and the general texture of Isaan daily life are worth an evening or two.

Summary

For getting to Buriram, see our complete transport guide. For accommodation across all budgets, see our Where to Stay guide. For football at Chang Arena, see our Buriram United guide.

Images: Box Repsol / Jaime Olivares, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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