20 races unveiled for 2021 as MotoGP seeks ‘return to normality’

20 races unveiled for 2021 as MotoGP seeks ‘return to normality’

Next year is scheduled to start in Qatar on March 8 and round up Valencia on Nov 14.

Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta hopes the calendar will run smoothly but says it’s important to be flexible. (MotoGP website pic)
VALENCIA:
The 2021 MotoGP season will feature 20 races, according to a provisional calendar released Friday, with organisers hoping for a “return to normality” after a coronavirus-hit year.

Next year is scheduled to start, as usual, in Qatar on March 8 and round up Valencia on Nov 14.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP organisers Dorna Sports, said: “We try to return to normality, we talked to all the promoters and made the normal calendar because it’s important to block the days and to know exactly on which days there will be the Grands Prix.

“We hope we can do it. Obviously there are many things we don’t know yet, that’s why we’ve included three reserve Grands Prix to be allocated wherever it’s possible and also taking into consideration the weather considerations of each place.”

Two reserves are in Europe, Portimao in Portugal and St Petersburg in Russia, and Mandalika in Indonesia.

Provisional 2021 MotoGP calendar

March 28: Qatar (Losail, night course)

April 11: Argentina (Termas de Rio Hondo)

April 18: US (Austin)

May 2: Spain (Jerez)

May 16: France (Le Mans)

May 30: Italy (Mugello)

June 6: Catalunya (Barcelona)

June 20: Germany (Sachsenring)

June 27: Netherlands (Assen)

July 11: Finland (KymiRing)

Aug 15: Austria (Spielberg)

Aug 29: Great Britain (Silverstone)

Sept 12: Aragon (Alcaniz, Spain)

Sept 19: San Marino (Misano)

Oct 3: Japan (Motegi)

Oct 10: Thailand (Buriram)

Oct 24: Australia (Phillip Island)

Oct 31: Malaysia (Sepang)

Nov 14: Valencia (Ricardo Tormo circuit, Spain)

Note: Date and place of the 20th GP yet to be announced, but likely to be held between July 11-Aug 15.

In reserve: Portugal (Portimao), Indonesia (Mandalika), Russia (St Petersburg)

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