BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP: Inside the 2026 Title Sponsorship

When the grid lines up for a MotoGP race in 2026, one of the factory-supported Ducati outfits carries a name Malaysian sports fans will recognise: BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP. The title sponsorship is held under BK8 News, the group's media brand, and when the deal began in 2025 it was widely reported as the first time a gaming-linked brand had taken a MotoGP title sponsorship.

Gresini Racing is one of MotoGP's most established independent teams. The partnership put the BK8 name on the fairings, the riders' leathers, the garage and the transporters across a full world championship calendar, and in May 2026 it was extended through the 2028 season, keeping the team in BK8 colours for at least four straight years. For a brand built in Southeast Asia, a multi-year title role in a global motorsport series is a serious step up in visibility.

The 2026 rider line-up

Alex Marquez leads the team in 2026 after a standout 2025 in which he finished runner-up in the MotoGP World Championship, the best season of his premier-class career. For 2026 he rides a factory-specification Ducati Desmosedici GP, a mark of how far the Gresini project has come.

Alongside him is Fermin Aldeguer, the young Spaniard who took Rookie of the Year honours in 2025. The pairing gives the team a proven front-runner and one of the most promising talents on the grid, both racing in BK8 colours.

New colours for 2026

The team unveiled its 2026 livery on 31 January 2026 under the theme "Pure essence," carrying the BK8 branding into a second season on track.

Looking ahead to 2027

The rider roster changes for 2027. Alex Marquez is moving on to a factory KTM seat, and Gresini has already confirmed its next pairing: Joan Mir, the 2020 world champion, alongside Moto2 graduate Dani Holgado. The point for readers is the continuity underneath the driver changes: with the deal running to 2028, the BK8 name stays on the team through the transition. For the full 2027 line-up detail, see the official MotoGP announcement (2 July 2026).

Why the sponsorship matters

Sports sponsorships are how BK8 has built brand recognition beyond its home markets. The MotoGP deal sits alongside a wider portfolio that includes Burnley F.C. in English football and a series of Badminton World Federation event partnerships. Each placement does the same job: putting the brand in front of large international audiences through legitimate, mainstream sport rather than advertising alone.

For readers here, the takeaway is measured. A brand committed to a MotoGP team through 2028 is operating at a scale and level of public scrutiny that a fly-by-night operator could not sustain. It is one signal among several, and the licensing and independent testing matter more, but a four-year motorsport commitment is a real one. You can read more about the company on our about BK8 page.