On the occasion of the San Marino Grand Prix, Carmelo Ezpeleta, the Director of Dorna, the company which manages the Grands Prix, announced the expansion of the World Championship calendar to a total of 24 events from 2022.
" Obviously, explained Dorna's boss, the calendar cannot be unlimited. At the start in 1992 there were 13 Grands Prix, in 2018 we have 19 and next year it will be 20. Twenty is the maximum number of Grands Prix we have agreed with the manufacturers and teams in the current period until next year. »
“Then we discussed the situation and agreed that the maximum number of races for the period between 2022 and 2026 will be 22 races. »
There will be a rotation system for a potential five GPs in Spain and Portugal, according to Carmelo.
Spain already has four races currently – Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, Jerez, Valencia and Motorland Aragón – on a 19-round calendar, but Portugal's Portimão circuit is interested in joining them. “ Portugal would prefer to have one GP every year, but they are prepared to accept three races in five years if necessary » explained Ezpeleta.
La Finland should be part of it next year and Indonesia the following season.
Ezpeleta told the site MotoGP.com that a region could not accommodate a quarter of the races: “ We could have done it another way, like with a call for tenders, and choose who pays the most, but we won't do that. We will first talk to people to see whether or not they are interested in continuing in this way. »
“We believe the best way to achieve this is to rotate between the five GPs on the Iberian Peninsula. Each circuit will have three races in five years, but this will only be the case if our proposal is accepted. »
Ezpeleta said there was a lot of interest in hosting races soon in important Southeast Asian markets for manufacturers. “ We have a contract with Indonesia and are in discussions with other countries, but I cannot announce anything until the agreements are concluded » said Ezpeleta. He said Italy would retain two races since it was home to two of the manufacturers.
Photos © motogp.com / Dorna
