With currently eighteen races, the World Championship calendar is already full. But other circuits are knocking on the door of GPs, while the current ones have no intention of abandoning this popular sport.
If we listen to Carmelo Ezpeleta, boss of Dorna and mainly responsible for commercial success, around twenty Grands Prix could soon be on the agenda, as he declared to MCN. The first addition concerns the new circuit of Kymiring in Finland, of which here is a video presentation.
The construction of this circuit continues, but not very quickly, which makes Ezpeleta say that the Finnish Grand Prix will probably not take place before 2019: “ Finland will probably be on the schedule in 2019, because they can't do much work right now, but we're still talking with them. It's up to them now, the ball is in their court: if they finish in time to be approved for 2018, then they will join us ". Thailand is also requesting with Buriram, which has the merit of already hosting a round of the Superbike World Championship. Indonesia is also in full swing to host the MotoGP, with the possibility of a transformed Sentul circuit, or the Jakabaring project as follows:
There are also other projects which are a bit like sea serpents, such as in Wales (Circuit of Wales) and in Hungary (Hungaroring). Everyone can dream, except Spa Francorchamps. The Belgian circuit is rejected in advance by the boss of Dorna: “ Spa contacted us last summer, but the main problem for us is security. It is almost impossible for us to approve the circuit for MotoGP. We talked a bit about World Superbikes, and they offered to do some work there, but there is no hope for MotoGP and we still need to talk more for Superbike ».
20 Grands Prix, is that too many?
Traveling around the world for 18 races is already difficult for the weakest in the paddock, that is to say the mechanics. Regardless of the number of races, they will not be increased. On the other hand, they will be less and less present at home and will see their children grow up less and less.
Conversely, increasing the number of races is a lucrative business for those at the other end of the scale, World Cup organizers, team owners, television broadcasters, etc. If the pace of 18 races is painful, what will it be like with 20? To find out, you would have to ask the NASCAR teams who have a calendar of 40 races per year.
