Gresini Ducati showcased 2026 MotoGP bike and livery in a launch in Malaysia, as IndyCar announced race in Washington backed by an executive order.
The BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Team officially unveiled its new project for the 2026 season on Saturday evening, with the glittering Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur as the perfect backdrop. Hosted by title sponsor BK8 News, it’s the first time the team has held their presentation in KL – and perfectly timed ahead of the Sepang Test.
2025 MotoGP runner up Alex Marquez took centre stage at the event, attending alongside team management and partners, while Fermin Aldeguer joined via live connection from home as he continues his recovery from a broken leg suffered in training.
The new livery revealed on stage represents an evolution of Gresini Racing’s identity: an essential and modern design, clean surfaces and enhanced volumes, with the team’s iconic light blue interpreted in a richer, more solid finish. A clear stylistic choice that abandons chrome details to express an even stronger racing character.
Alex Marquez: “I’m very happy with the new bike and really excited to start a new season with this team. This year the presentation in Kuala Lumpur was very special; it’s a different and very important market. We hope it will be a season full of success, and on our side we will put in all the commitment and hard work needed to achieve our goals. We are absolutely ready to challenge ourselves.”
Fermin Aldeguer: “It is obviously a great disappointment not to be here in Kuala Lumpur for the team presentation. We’ve had a small setback and are working tirelessly to return as soon as possible. I miss the team and I miss the bike; unfortunately we need to do things properly and recover. That is the only goal at the moment: to get back to 100%, and then we will think about getting back on the bike. One step at a time. The bike is even more beautiful than last year’s, and there is a strong desire to return.”
Nadia Padovani, Team Owner: “We leave behind a 2025 season full of confirmations and look ahead to 2026 with enthusiasm and great determination. Expectations remain high: we have a solid team, with a lot of experience behind us, and two extremely talented riders ready to continue the growth path we have built over the years. Fermín has joined the project with natural confidence and personality, immediately showing he has the right values and approach, and even though he is currently on the sidelines, he will be back with us very soon. Alex has everything it takes to be a consistent front-runner and to fight for the positions that matter every race weekend. We strongly believe in this pairing and in the work we are doing together. We are truly proud of this new project: a bike with a strong, essential character that perfectly reflects our identity and our desire to keep surprising.”
Here’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzU_e4T41AM
Here’s how Day 3 in MotoGP shakedown panned out: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2026/01/31/shakedown-concludes-with-honda-fastest-at-sepang/826838
MotoGP 2026 reveals so far –
IndyCar –
An executive order signed today by President Donald J. Trump directed the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday to designate a race route through Washington, D.C. and the National Mall for the purposes of conducting an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on Aug. 21-23, 2026. The event will recognize the historic milestone of America’s independence in addition to celebrating the unparalleled tradition and legacy of America’s motorsports industry.
“INDYCAR racing is a source of pride and entertainment for our Nation, which is why I am pleased to announce the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.” said President Trump via the executive order. “This race, the first motor race ever to be held in our Nation’s capital near the National Mall, will showcase the majesty of our great city as drivers navigate a track around our iconic national monuments in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.”
The full executive order can be viewed here: Executive Orders – The White House.
The event will be administered by INDYCAR in coordination with the taskforce, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of the Interior and Washington, D.C.’s Executive Office of the Mayor. “For over one hundred years, American INDYCAR racing has set the pace for motorsports,” President Trump said. “With speeds topping over 200 miles per hour, the cars and drivers inspire awe and respect in all who watch this quintessentially American sport.”
For more than a century, INDYCAR has hosted the iconic Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on the Sunday before Memorial Day, annually the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” serves as a singular and powerful tribute to the United States Armed Forces, with a crowd of more than 350,000 people gathering to show respect and gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our military heroes. Legends of INDYCAR span multiple generations from racing greats like Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt to the stars of today like four-time series champion Alex Palou and two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden.
“President Trump has bestowed an incredible distinction upon our sport, and we’re grateful for his trust and support as INDYCAR prepares to honor our country with a tremendous racing spectacle,” said Roger Penske. “This will be a truly memorable event that celebrates our country’s independence and the legacy of patriotism, innovation and excellence that powers motorsports across America.”
“Freedom doesn’t ring, it revs! INDYCAR is about competition and pushing limits — the same things that have always defined America,” said United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. “There’s no better place to celebrate our 250th anniversary than bringing that energy to the nation’s capital and showcasing Washington, D.C. to the world.”
“The Department of the Interior is proud to help bring the historic Freedom 250 Grand Prix to Washington, D.C. to showcase our treasured public spaces through a monumental event that captures the America spirit in the heart of our nation’s capital,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Like the sport of racing itself, this administration, under President Donald J. Trump, is moving at record speed to make life better for all Americans and ensure that the United States marks its 250th birthday with the celebration that it deserves. Start your engines, America!”
“Soon-to-be the home of every major sports franchise, Washington, D.C. is the undisputed Sports Capital,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “But we don’t stop there and work to attract major events. That’s why I am thrilled to welcome the Freedom 250 to the Nation’s Capital this August. The race weekend will rev up the economic engine of D.C. by filling our hotels and restaurants and by showing visitors, residents and the sports world that there’s no better city, people and backdrop for major sports events. I invite all sports fans to come enjoy the Freedom 250 and all that Washington, D.C. has to offer.”
“There’s no better place to celebrate America’s independence than in our nation’s capital, and no better way to showcase that spirit than through INDYCAR – a sport built on speed, innovation and competition,” said Eric Shanks, CEO & executive producer, FOX Sports. “Bringing this race to Washington, D.C. during America’s 250th birthday is a powerful way to honor our past while celebrating what’s ahead, and all of us at FOX Sports couldn’t be more proud to showcase this event to the country.”
The street circuit event will be free to the general public and include vantage points of several majestic symbols of national pride and unity. Like all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, it will be televised to a live network audience via FOX Sports. More details about the course and the event will be shared during a kickoff gathering in the coming weeks.
[The story is as per press release]