RALLY - On Friday, October 30th, it was announced that Dakar 2027 will be moved from Saudi Arabia to Portugal and Morocco. The war in Iran has forced race organizers to undergo the huge logistical shift to the world's largest Motorsports event.

Following the opening of the service park on January 5th in Loulé-Faro, administrative and technical scrutineering will take place there from January 6th to 8th. The sporting action will begin in Portugal on January 9th with the prologue, before the first special stage the following day. The stage will continue with a transfer to the port of embarkation for Nador, Morocco. The Mediterranean crossing will take place overnight.

MOTOGP - Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin did his best to compete last weekend at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia. He participated in FP1 one week after fracturing his forearm and wrist, but the pain was too great and he sat out the rest of the weekend.

The Saturday Sprint was won by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Pedro Acosta, with Ducati Lenovo's Marc Marquez taking P2, followed by Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi. That put Martin 19 points behind Marquez in the Riders' Championship.

On Sunday that gap widened to 44 points, with Marc's 25 point haul as winner of the GP. With just three rounds left on the schedule Martin is seeing his hopes of a second MotoGP Championship fade out of sight.

Jorge Martin has traveled to Qatar to try to race this weekend. But a decision will have to wait until tomorrow for medical clearance by MotoGP Medical Director Dr. Angel Charte at 12:15 on Friday. Meanwhile, if things go right for Marc Marquez, he will stage another amazing comeback and claim his eighth MotoGP World Championship.

It was over 160 days ago when Marc Marquez was 102 points behind in the title fight. In order to clinch, Marquez will have to outscore Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin by 30 points and Marco Bezzecchi by 8. He would have to finish in the top five in the Saturday Sprint in order to set up a possible clinch on Sunday.

After surgery in Madrid, BK8 Gresini Racing's Alex Marquez will sit out this weekend in Qatar, with the aim of returning in Portugal in two weeks. Last weekend in Sepang he claimed pole and went on to a podium spot on Sunday, before announcing he would fly back to Spain for surgery. Alex had medical procedures on his right collarbone, left hand and right shoulder.

Marc Marquez: "Qatar is a great track, but not one of my favorites, and in the past, in some years, I've really struggled a lot here. Last year, on the other hand, we were really fast and competitive. In Malaysia, we managed the weekend in the best way possible; especially on Saturday, it was easy to make mistakes. The strategy won't change here: we work day by day and aim to give our absolute best in Sunday's race."

This will be the 24th Grand Prix held at Lusail since it joined the calendar in 2004, and the 20th under the floodlights. From 2007 to 2022, it was the season opener, before moving later in the year in 2023 while the circuit was renovated. It opened the season again in 2024 and was round four in April 2025. Originally scheduled for April, the 2026 GP was postponed to November due to the war in the Middle East. It remains the only night race on the calendar.

Ducati lead Aprilia by 8 points in the Constructors’ Championship (537 to 529), having retaken the lead last Sunday at Sepang.

The Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar is this weekend. Times and channels of the broadcast are subject to change. FOX Sports is notoriously unreliable. Disclaimer notwithstanding, this is what we're going with, because various sites, (including FOX!) have conflicting listings. Saturday Sprint: 11:55 AM ET FS2. Sunday GP: 11:30 AM ET FS1. Your results may vary.

WORLDSBK - The Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori, or EICMA is held in Italy every year at the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center in Rho, located just outside Milan. It is the biggest motorcycle exhibition on the planet, with this year's dates running from November 3rd - 8th.

It is the venue where the latest models are introduced and is a highly anticipated motorcycle industry gathering. The Piaggio Group, which owns Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa and Gilera, to name a few, always has one of, if not, the biggest display areas.

For Aprilia, the name ‘Factory’ has always represented the pinnacle of cutting-edge technology, applied to its sportiest and most exclusive motorbikes. These bikes represent a family of top-of-the-range models. From the V4, RSV4 and Tuono V4; to the benchmark mid-range models in the category, the RS 660 and Tuono 660, they all have new graphics for 2027.

Aprilia is at the forefront when it comes to developing new electronic solutions designed to enhance performance and safety. All the Factory models come with the very best that technology currently has to offer in this sector as standard equipment. Aprilia was the first to introduce ‘Ride by Wire’ – the electronic throttle now used by everyone.

The aPRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) is the brand's suite of electronic controls. The RSV4 Factory and Tuono V4 Factory are the only models on the market to feature Corner By Corner technology, which automatically adjusts the electronic settings for traction control, wheelie control and engine braking, based on the settings chosen by the rider before taking to the track. Just like on the most advanced race bikes.

FORMULA 1 - One week removed from winning the USGP at COTA, Kimi Antonelli finished third in Mexico, which was good enough to make him the youngest Formula 1 World Champion ever. It was the first World Drivers' Championship for an Italian driver since Alberto Ascari took the 1953 title.

Antonelli entered Sunday's 71-lap race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez needing only to finish ninth to claim a maiden F1 title, regardless of where rivals Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes teammate George Russell finished. Kimi started P4 and did what he had to do to clinch the World Drivers' Championship.

Max Verstappen claimed his third win of the season, the Red Bull driver withstanding late pressure from Hamilton. The race started in controversy, as Charles Leclerc attempted to jump teammate Hamilton, who took poll in Mexico City. The ill-advised maneuver cost both Ferrari drivers as Leclerc was penalized for his off track excursion on the first lap to gain an advantage.

Valtteri Bottas had a scary, high-speed crash caused when the left-side suspension of his Cadillac exploded. The incident brought out a red flag. Max Verstappen maintained his lead after the standing restart and held off Hamilton for the win. Hamilton was P2.

Antonelli added his one World Championship to the two legends in front of him to make it an even dozen titles on the Mexican Grand Prix podium. It must have been surreal for the 20-year-old Bolognese driver, who not long ago was driving a kart to be hoisted to the shoulders by two of his driving idols.

By any measure Antonelli's title charge was a shot in the arm to Formula 1, which has already grown in popularity ever since its Netflix-driven publicity. Yes, the Mercedes is the class of the field. But veteran driver George Russell isn't the 2026 World Champion. Is he?

If Kimi had won in a Ferrari, maybe the country would still be celebrating. But as it is, almost every major Italian daily, including La Repubblica, plastered Antonelli across their front pages, with some featuring him hoisted on the shoulders of rival champions Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, or draped in the Italian flag.

Kimi Antonelli The Youngest F1 Champion in History

Kimi Antonelli: "It's difficult to put into words what I'm feeling right now. I'm still trying to process it all, but to be able to say that I am world champion is just incredible. This is a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. We've had an amazing season and I'm so proud of what we have achieved together. From very early on, we had a strong car and were able to be consistent, and that gave us the belief that we could fight for the championship.

"I wouldn't be here without this team and without all the people and partners who have supported me throughout my career. Mercedes has believed in me for so many years and given me this incredible opportunity, so to repay that trust by winning the World Championship together means so much. I also have to thank my family, my friends and everyone who has been there for me along the way.

"I definitely felt more tension coming into this weekend, knowing what was possible, so to get it done today is a huge relief and an amazing feeling. Finishing on the podium made it even more special and sharing it with Max (Verstappen) and Lewis (Hamilton) was really cool. We still have races to go and we want to finish the season strongly by clinching the Constructors' Championship, but tonight we're definitely going to enjoy this moment together as a team."

Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff: "What Kimi has achieved today is extraordinary. To become Formula 1 World Champion at 20 years old, and to do it in only his second season, is a remarkable achievement. But what makes me most proud is not the record or the statistics, it is the journey he has been on to get here.

"There were difficult moments last year. There were people who questioned whether he was ready for Formula 1 and whether he deserved to be in a Mercedes. We always believed in his talent and knew those difficult experiences would make him stronger. To see the way he has responded this season, the confidence he has built and the level at which he is now performing is incredibly satisfying. We saw that maturity again today. He managed the first stint extremely well, stayed patient when the red flag took away the advantage he had created, and then made the move when he needed to after the restart. To deliver that performance with a World Championship on the line says a lot about him."

The pressure is off and we are on to Brazil this weekend, a country not adverse to celebrations. For Mercedes the job isn't done because they would like to also claim the Constructors' Championship.

At Interlagos weather is always a topic of concern. São Paulo is currently under an Orange Alert, which means there is a chance of flash flooding. The weather should subside for Free Practice on Friday, with rain probability set at 36%. Qualifying day forecast is partly cloudy early with thunderstorms becoming likely during the afternoon. On Race Day it will most likely be wet. The chance of rain is 80%, with rainfall amounts around a quarter of an inch.

Maybe the pizza-loving Paulistanos will bring the Scuderia some luck in Brazil. With around 6,000 pizzerias in São Paulo, the metropolis is estimated to be the world's second-largest city for pizza consumption, behind New York.

This weekend marks the twentieth race of the season and the final round of the American triple-header, which has seen teams and drivers compete in the United States, Mexico and now Brazil.

For Gabriel Bortoleto’s home race, the Audi Revolut F1 Team has unveiled a special livery designed by Title Partner Revolut for the São Paulo Grand Prix. The Audi R26 will ditch the silver, black and red colors for a shade of Brazilian green in São Paulo.

At its heart is the geometric Piso Paulista pattern, drawing inspiration from São Paulo’s distinctive pavement design. This common visual thread connects the Revolut-designed livery with the race suits, pit crew suits and garage branding, extending across the cars, the drivers and the team’s race-weekend environment.

Apple TV coverage of the MSC Cruises Grande Prêmio de São Paulo begins Sunday at 10:50 AM Eastern. For Free Practice and Qualifying times, see the Jay Geils Memorial TV Links above.

2026 FORMULA 1 CALENDAR.

Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins - The story about the man who grew up to realize his childhood dream of driving a Formula 1 car for Enzo Ferrari is now available once more in the United States. Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins is written by Michele Alboreto's brother Ermanno and details his early years and rise through the racing ranks. It also tells about his character outside the car and that is the contribution that we are most proud to be associated with. It began with an interview during Michele's Indy car career and a request to use it in his life story. We also contributed interviews with his teammates and racing legends like Giacomo Agostini. Listen to that interview HERE. For ordering info, reply to this update for details. There are a limited number of copies here in America, you will save international shipping prices by getting your copy directly. Visit the Facebook page HERE.

INDYCAR - And to the victors - MILK! The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will continue the long tradition of a slug of bottled milk for the winner of the Indianapolis 500.

The tradition of drinking milk after winning the Indianapolis 500 dates back to 1936, when Louis Meyer, an avid drinker of buttermilk, requested a bottle after earning his third Indy 500 victory. As the story goes, a dairy industry executive saw the newsreel footage of the iconic moment and requested milk be made available to the winner of each Indianapolis 500 thereafter.

These days, buttermilk is no longer offered as an option. All 33 drivers entered in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge submit their milk preference to American Dairy Association Indiana in advance. They can choose between whole milk, 2% reduced fat milk or skim milk. Whole milk is the most popular choice, but there are some drivers who still request buttermilk in honor of Meyer.

Each May, two Indiana dairy farmers are selected to serve as milk presenters, delivering the coveted bottle of milk to the Indianapolis 500 winner during the post-race celebration.

In addition to the milk selection tradition, American Dairy Association Indiana will continue to support the Fastest Rookie Luncheon that honors rookie qualifiers for the Indianapolis 500 each year. The annual Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year trophy also is sponsored by ADAI. Last year, the trophy awarded to the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year was redesigned and features the famous Marmon “Wasp,” which Ray Harroun drove to win the inaugural race in 1911.

INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles: “Drinking an ice-cold bottle of milk has become a symbol of victory and is one of the most treasured traditions here at IMS. Rooted in Louis Meyer’s surprise victory lane request in 1936, a cold bottle of milk has become an expectation to greet the winning driving in victory lane each year. At Indy, ‘Winners Drink Milk,’ and we look forward to continuing to celebrate winners with the ADAI.”

The 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule kicks of March 7, 2027 on the street of St. Petersburg. For tickets, event updates and additional information, follow the link to THE FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG.

FORMULA E - With Mitch Evans making the bombshell move to Opel GSE Formula E Team this season, having started his Formula E career at Jaguar TCS Racing a decade ago, here are some of the other biggest driver market swaps that have been seen in the championship since its inception. 

The pairing of reigning World Champion Pascal Wehrlein and the Porsche Formula E team feels like a partnership that was always meant to be. Two giants of German Motorsport, but when Wehrlein joined the all-electric championship for the 2018/19 season he was actually representing Mahindra Racing. 

After competing in Formula 1 with the likes of Manor and Sauber, Wehrlein balanced a full-time Formula E seat with Development Driver duties for Scuderia Ferrari. He was teammates to Jérôme d'Ambrosio – who is now himself Deputy Team Principal for Ferrari in F1 – and secured one podium and a pole position during his rookie season.

FIA WEC - The FIA World Endurance Championship wraps up the 2026 calendar this weekend at the 6 Hours of Monza. Known as ‘The Temple of Speed’, the Autodromo has undergone several transformations over the years, with its current 3.599 mile, 11-turn layout and combination of long straights and tight chicanes, which call for aerodynamic efficiency, traction and braking stability.

FIA WEC visited Monza for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023. On the most recent of those occasions, 12 different car makers took to the track; in evidence of the world championship’s forward momentum and growth, this weekend, there will be 17.

There are 11 Italians racing in their home round this weekend. After beginning the season in Imola, after the opening round in Bahrain was cancelled due to the war in Iran, we are back in Italy, because the war continues in the Mideast.

Italy becomes the first country to book-end the calendar and host the series at two different venues during a single season, as the action concludes in Europe for the first time since 2019. Although the Hypercar Manufacturers’ crown has already been clinched by Toyota, three other prestigious trophies are still up for grabs in the 6 Hours of Monza.

Built more than a century ago in royal parkland just north of Milan, the world’s third-oldest purpose-built motor racing circuit – and oldest in mainland Europe. Monza has a long association with the pinnacle of international endurance racing, stretching back over six decades and yielding victories for heroes of the sport such as John Surtees, Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx.

Ferrari Race Their Second Home Round of 2026

At stake this weekend is the Hypercar Drivers' Championship. The battle is between the two Toyota Racing crews; the No. 8 Toyota has 114 points and the No. 7 Toyota crew is second with 97 points.

In LMGT3, Corvette has the upper hand in the title fight, with the No. 33 TF Sport entry leading the way and the sister No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Z06 not far behind in third – then Porsche and BMW are still hoping to turn the tables at the legendary ‘Temple of Speed’. 

In 2026, Nicky Catsburg and Ben Keating both missed races in the No. 33 TF Sport Corvette, so their teammate Jonny Edgar is on the verge of solo LMGT3 Drivers’ Championship this weekend. Monza marks the 80th FIA WEC outing for Chevrolet.

Jonny Edgar: “It’s exciting to go race for a championship at a track like Monza. There’s a lot of history there and it would be great if we can make our own this weekend. I know everyone at TF and Corvette are ready and prepared for the challenge. We know what we need to do so that’s left is to execute it. It would be an honor to win the Drivers championship but this wouldn’t be possible without the whole of the TF Sport team. So that’s the focus we all have going into this race.”

There's an even more momentous milestone for Corvette's closest rival in LMGT3, Porsche. Across all of its GT variants, the 911 will chalk up an unprecedented 500 entries in the series, and the German sportscar has consistently shone at the Autodromo. Indeed, the last time the championship visited Monza, Porsche locked out the LMGTE Am podium.

Manthey – a brand whose reputation in GT racing precedes it – closed the gap with victory at the last round in Spain for its No. 92 The Bend Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R. Team WRT’s No. 69 BMW M4 Evo, meanwhile, will require a perfect weekend at Monza and hope its rivals hit trouble if it is to spring a late surprise.

Following a seventh-place finish at Barcelona, the No. 33 crew needs to finish fifth or better at Monza to wrap up the championship, no matter what any of their competitors do in the race.

Check out the 6 HOURS OF MONZA entry list for the final event of 2026 on November 6th - 8th. Streaming times for the 6 Hours of Monza are above in the Jay Geils Memorial TV Links.

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