Thousands of refugees in Buriram—maybe it’s time to call off MotoGP

We reported on this last July, but not even two months after the peace deal the situation has spiraled again. The Chang International Circuit in Buriram is serving as a reception center for refugees fleeing the renewed border war between Thailand and Cambodia. As always, it’s the ordinary people who suffer the most... Once again, thousands of displaced people have found the racetrack to be a place for temporary shelter. Thailand has just renewed its agreement with MotoGP through 2031, but it seems highly unlikely we’ll see it used for the February tests, which would be followed by the first race of the year.

The most serious military escalation in the last 15 years, amid cross-accusations about who fired first between the two countries, shows no sign of easing. The peace agreement reached in October, with U.S. mediation, already seems to be little more than a dead letter, with Thai airstrikes in the border area with Cambodia, a war zone for months. In fact, the disputed area has been a source of conflict for decades... And already in November the truce was wobbling with new incidents right at the border. Recently there’s been a constant back-and-forth of accusations over who has once again lit the fuse, reigniting the conflict, while the EU’s call for restraint has gone unheeded. There have already been fatalities, and thousands of civilians from both countries have fled their homes in haste, escaping the areas hit by the attacks. These are just some of the images posted on the circuit’s social profile to show the current situation.

It would probably be the best idea. As mentioned, this isn’t new, but the intensification of clashes in 2025, with the Thai track inevitably becoming a refugee camp, is certainly a major concern. MotoGP tests are scheduled for February 21-22, to then kick off the first event of the 2026 Championship over the weekend of February 27 to March 1, 2026. But are we sure? Is it really appropriate to keep planning a Grand Prix in such a critical area right now? We’ll see later on whether calendar changes will be made.