The race on the Buddh circuit, on the outskirts of New Delhi, debuted last year but has not been confirmed for 2024. In a rather unusual announcement, both Dorna (championship promoter) and Fairstreet Sports (local promoter) announced the cancellation of the event initially scheduled for this September due to weather concerns. The note did not specifically mention a suspension, but rather a postponement to 2025.
“The Indian Grand Prix is postponed to 2025,” read the statement released by the FIM on May 29. “Following the advice of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, which continues its long-term commitment to MotoGP, the event will return to Buddh in March 2025, when weather conditions are expected to be optimal for both spectators and riders,” the statement continued.
Two months later, Dorna made public the signing of a new agreement with Invest UP, an investment agency of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the economic zone of influence on which the Buddh depends. The contract, with a value of three years (until 2027), left aside Fairstreet, the previous promoter and the real responsible for the fact that the race was not held in 2024, given that it did not respect the economic commitments with the owner of the rights to the championship.
Now Motorsport.com understands that the Indian Grand Prix is very likely not to even make the 2025 calendar, as the local authorities have not found the capital that would be needed to organize the event. At this stage of the year, and with the urgency of publishing the calendar, it is difficult to imagine a compromise being reached.
With some dates already confirmed, the next season will kick off in Thailand on the first weekend of March, before going through a couple of weeks without racing. Logic dictates that Argentina will be racing on March 16, followed by Austin on March 30, closing out the American leg.
The paddock will settle in Europe from the end of April with the Jerez race until mid-September with Misano. Then it will fly to Asia with two double-headers, before returning to the Old Continent. The championship will close in Valencia in mid-November, a week after racing in Portimao, which was initially scheduled as a replacement, but which will eventually return to the calendar.
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