RIZE (Türkiye) 31 January 2026 – The 2026 season of the FIM Snowcross World Championship was officially kicked off on Friday with a vibrant Opening Ceremony held in the heart of Rize, set against the stunning backdrop of the Black Sea. Taking place in the city centre, the event brought together riders, officials and local authorities to mark the beginning of a new SNX season in a truly special setting.
The Opening Ceremony was attended by the Infront Moto Racing SNX General Manager Patricia Maskarova and the FIM Representer & FIM Asia Board Manager Ms. Gong Hong Guo, along with key representatives from national and international institutions, including senior officials such as General Manager of International Organizations and Foreign Affairs from Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sport Ahmet Temurci, the Mayor of Rize, Rahmi Metin and the Governor of Rize İhsan Selim Baydaş, the President of the Turkish Motorcycling Federation, Mehmet Sadık Vefa. Such a broad and high-level representation highlighted the importance of the event at both sporting and institutional levels.
All riders competing in the championship were present and presented to the public, and launched the World Championship together, stepping on stage to be officially introduced and warmly welcomed by the many people attending the event. The ceremony offered a unique opportunity for athletes to immerse themselves in local culture with local dancers and music, creating a strong connection between the SNX paddock and the people of Rize.
Following the ceremonial launch, attention now turns to competition. Tomorrow, the riders will travel to the Rize Handüzü Plateau, where on-track action begins with the qualifying day, officially opening the sporting battle of the SNX World Championship.
With a strong start in a spectacular location, the Rize round has already set the tone for an exciting championship ahead.
Timetable (Local Time / UTC+3)
Saturday – 31 January 2026
- 12:00 | Women – Free Practice
- 12:30 | Men – Free Practice
- 13:30 | Women – Qualifying Heat 1
- 13:50 | Men – Group 1 Qualifying Heat 1
- 14:10 | Men – Group 2 Qualifying Heat 1
- 14:45 | Women – Qualifying Heat 2
- 15:05 | Men – Group 1 Qualifying Heat 2
- 15:25 | Men – Group 2 Qualifying Heat 2
- 16:00 | Men – Last Chance Race
Sunday – 1 February 2026 – Race Day
- 11:30 | Women – Warm-Up
- 11:45 | Men – Warm-Up
- 12:30 | Women – Final 1 (10 minutes + 1 lap)
- 12:55 | Men – Final 1 (15 minutes + 1 lap)
- 13:40 | Women – Final 2
- 14:05 | Men – Final 2 (15 minutes + 1 lap)
- Podium Ceremony directly after races
LIVE COVERAGE ON MXGP-TV
LIVE on MXGP-TV – Sunday 1 February 2026 (Times shown in CET)
| Race | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| WSNX Race 1 | 10:20 | 10:45 |
| SNX Race 1 | 10:50 | 11:15 |
| WSNX Race 2 | 11:30 | 12:00 |
| SNX Race 2 | 12:00 | 13:00 |
The opening round of the 2026 FIM Snowcross World Championship in Rize, Turkiye will be streamed live and free on MXGP-TV (SNX and WSNX), allowing fans around the world to follow the start of the season with no subscription required, just a simple registration.
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TIMETABLE & LIVE SCHEDULE | FIM SNX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OPENS 2026 SEASON IN RIZE, TÜRKIYE
