MotoGP has revealed that it’s going to host not more than two races in Spain and Portugal from 2027 after signing a brand new contract with Barcelona.
On Wednesday, MotoGP introduced that it had agreed phrases with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to maintain the Catalan GP on the calendar till 2031.
It’s a five-year deal that can come into impact following the tip of the present settlement, which runs by means of the tip of the 2026 season.
MotoGP has additionally clarified that Barcelona is not going to enter a rotation system, unlike Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, and can stay an annual fixture on the calendar nicely into the beginning of the brand new decade.
In response to MotoGP, Barcelona will likely be considered one of solely two circuits within the Iberian Peninsula that can stay on the calendar when the sequence’ new 850cc engine period begins in 2027.
This can mark an enormous discount in MotoGP’s presence within the area, with 4 grands prix going down in Spain this 12 months (Barcelona, Jerez, Valencia, Aragon) and one other one in Portugal (Portimao).
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta stated that with the altering instances circuits have to supply greater than aggressive racing in an effort to justify their place on the calendar.
“It is crucial to make a profession, nevertheless it’s not nearly racing,” he stated. “The involvement of the federal government of the territories we’re going to is essential and Catalunya has proven us that they’re on the entrance line.
“The races are a very powerful factor, however it’s important to have an entire setting for the grand prix to have a return that justifies the funding.
“We now have realised that it’s difficult. In precept it’s not going to enter into rotations, nevertheless it is dependent upon how issues go, on the curiosity, not solely right here. Perhaps in different nations.
“Now we’ve got round 28 circuits that need a MotoGP grand prix, and we will solely do 22. It’s a must to take a look at the nations, the place. It goes with out saying that there needs to be a protected circuit and a corporation, we have to see the added worth to make sure that it’s not solely a sporting occasion.”
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, at Jerez
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
Ezpeleta denied that the discount of races in Spain/Portugal was an imposition of Liberty Media, which is within the technique of taking up a majority stake in Dorna.
“No, we’ve got been saying that for a very long time. We will not simply be widespread in Europe,” he defined.
“When Dorna took the world championship, there have been solely three races exterior Europe. We now have elevated these grands prix and subsequent 12 months we’ll go to Brazil, which is a basic market. We now have to guarantee that the grands prix are a advertising software for our producers to promote bikes, which is what it is all about.”
Ezpeleta reiterated that “22 grands prix is the quantity we’ve got set as a most per season,” however he didn’t wish to reveal the id of all circuits on the danger of being dropped from the schedule.
“It isn’t about those that are going to depart, however about those that are going to reach,” he stated. “The concept is to take away two or three races on the peninsula, nevertheless it relies upon, perhaps we will hold some extra.”
Photographs from Buriram Take a look at – Day 2
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Germán Garcia Casanova
MotoGP
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