Buriram inaugura MotoGP 2026: un arranque frenético en Moto2 y Moto3 con el regreso de Repsol al paddock

After months of waiting, the start lights in Buriram finally went out last weekend to kick off a new MotoGP season that promises to be an emotional roller coaster. Thailand was once again the perfect opening chapter: heat, humidity, and a Chang International Circuit that punishes the rear tire and rewards those who know how to manage the pace in the second half of the race. That was the scenario in which Moto2 and Moto3 opened 2026, in both cases with a good dose of tension.

The Moto2 race in Thailand was marked by two red flag interruptions that forced restarts, changes of plan, and a lot of cold blood on the wall. Manuel González read the track better than anyone, enabling him to achieve victory while Izan Guevara and Daniel Holgado joined him on the first podium of the year. Beyond the day's results, the final snapshot was that of a pack of favorites ready for the long haul and leave Asia knowing perfectly well what they've got to do next.

In Moto3, the checkered flag arrived glued to a sigh. David Almansa beat Máximo Quiles by just three thousandths of a second in a race that was decided by the details. Third on the podium was Valentín Perrone after a group battle that was marked by all the classics in this category: drafting, position changes, and nerves of steel down to the final meter.

Repsol's return: one lubricant for shared learning

The return of MotoGP in 2026 also had another star on the technical stage: Repsol's return as the exclusive supplier of lubricants for Moto2 and Moto3. As a result, all the riders in both categories used the formulations developed at Repsol TechLab, one of Europe's foremost research centers with extensive experience in the development of competition oils.

With the start of the Motorcycling World Cup, Repsol has announced the launch of EXTREME, a new range of lubricants with the same formulation as those used by the Moto2 and Moto3 teams. This product will soon be on shelves connected to Repsol Lubricants' official distribution network, further strengthening the connection between the track and the street.

Brazil and the US: upcoming MotoGP stops

The MotoGP World Championship has just started, but it's already continent-hopping. After Thailand, the calendar takes us halfway across the world to two consecutive dates that will demand logistical precision and capacity to adapt:

• Brazil (Autódromo Internacional de Goiânia – Ayrton Senna), March 20th–22nd. After 37 years of absence and extensive modernization work, the abrasive asphalt and the heat of the Brazilian circuit anticipate another serious test, where the constant pace, the fluidity, and the management of the rubber will be differential factors.
• United States (Circuit of the Americas), March 27th–29th. The event in the US will offer a total contrast, with fast-linked corners and aggressive braking that make it a physical and technical challenge.

The championship has started as promised, with finishes decided by millimeters and close struggles to reach the podium. The curtain went up in Thailand and the general photo, still in black and white, will begin to take on color after this first triple-header of such varying scenarios. Meanwhile, Repsol lubricants will continue to provide the kind of confidence that ensures maximum performance.