---
title: "MotoGP to Hold 2019 Pre-Season Tests in Valencia, Jerez, Sepang, and Qatar"
description: "The first test will take place immediately after the final race of 2018."
date: "2018-08-03"
modified: "2019-05-01"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22615/motogp-to-hold-2019-pre-season-tests-in-valencia-jerez-sepang-and-qatar"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Ducati"
  - "Jorge Lorenzo"
  - "Marc Márquez"
  - "MotoGP"
  - "motorcycle racing"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
---

# MotoGP to Hold 2019 Pre-Season Tests in Valencia, Jerez, Sepang, and Qatar

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/08/gettyimages-1010125544.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The MotoGP world championship announced the dates for five separate [test sessions](<https://testprepclub.org/csm-exam-dates-and-how-to-register-2019/>) ahead of the 2019 racing season, which will be split between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East between November 2018 and February 2019. In addition, the governing body also announced three test sessions for Moto2 and Moto3, and two confirmed for [Moto E](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19344/future-motoe-racing-teams-meet-during-motogps-visit-to-qatar>).

The racing fraternity will kick off the [2019 pre-seaso](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21340/motogps-marc-marquez-makes-his-formula-1-debut-with-toro-rosso>)n immediately following the 2018 season finale at Valencia, with the now-customary test taking place on the Tuesday and Wednesday after Sunday's race. MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 will head to Jerez after testing at Valencia for another two-day test, although the two series will test on different days rather than share the Spanish track.

![message-editor%2F1533305496913-gettyimages-999966762.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1533305496913-gettyimages-999966762.jpg>)
*Marc Marquez chases down Jorge Lorenzo., *GETTY**

The mandatory test ban begins following the Jerez test and until February 1 when teams hit the ground running at the [Sepang International Circuit](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/14825/watch-lewis-hamilton-take-a-fan-on-a-hot-lap-of-the-sepang-international-circuit>) in February. The first two days of the Malaysian test will simply be a shakedown of the 2019 machinery and followed by a two-day resting period. The action will begin once again at the end of the testing period with a full program over the course of February 6-8.

Lastly, the final test of the 2019 pre-season will take place in Qatar at the Losail International Circuit, where riders will have their final chance to come to terms with the new tires and other equipment ahead of the first race of the season at the same venue. However, the official 2019 calendar has yet to be released by Dorna Sports.

Moto2 and Moto3 will only test at Jerez on two different occasions, once in November and once in February, and a final test will take place in Qatar in March. As far as the new [all-electric MotoE](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/18330/motoe-world-cup-electric-motorcycle-racing-details-announced>) series, tests will take place at Jerez in November and March, with the date and venue for an April test yet to be confirmed.

![message-editor%2F1533305736461-gettyimages-999542870.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1533305736461-gettyimages-999542870.jpg>)
*Jorge Martin of Moto3., *GETTY**

MotoGP:

- Valencia Test: 20th - 21st November
- Jerez Test: 28th - 29th November
- Sepang Shakedown: 1st - 3rd February
- Sepang Test: 6th - 8th February
- Qatar Test: 23rd - 25th February

Moto2 and Moto3:

- Jerez Moto2/MotoE Test: 23rd - 25th November
- Jerez Moto2/Moto3 Test: 20th - 22nd February
- Qatar Moto2/Moto3 Test: 1st - 3rd March

MotoE:

- Jerez Moto2/MotoE Test: 23rd - 25th November
- Jerez MotoE Test: 12th - 14th March
- MotoE Test: April to be announced

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)