Saudi Arabia is a country coveted by motor sports for its wealth and opportunities. However, many have realized that it is easy to build on sand so that the oasis is most often a mirage prelude to crossing the desert. We will remember Aramco's recent experience with the VR46 with promising announcements that never materialized. But you have to persevere and this time, it was Dorna with Carmelo Ezpeleta himself who signed an agreement. Will MotoGP do as well as Formula 1?
The signing was made on Sunday at San Marino Grand Prix by HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, and by Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna. What is it about ? On the addition of Saudi Arabia to the calendar MotoGP on an annual basis which will allow the discipline to expand further into the Middle East, with Qatar currently hosting the region's only round. It will be recalled that the FIM MotoGP World Championship is followed by more than 800 million people and is broadcast live in more than 200 countries around the world.
The partnership initiative between SMC and Dorna will also see the establishment of a new talent development program for young Saudi pilots, designed to increase awareness and accessibility to the sport in the Kingdom. This program " Road to MotoGP » will provide young racing talents in Saudi Arabia with opportunities to compete at the highest levels of the sport, with the clear objective of developing future Saudi MotoGP champions. This aligns with the ongoing commitment of Dorna for the development of young riders around the world, using its platforms and championships to launch the careers of new riders and develop pathways to MotoGP racing.
Saudi Arabia will build its MotoGP circuit
And for that, MotoGP Saudi Arabia will take place on a newly constructed multi-purpose circuit approved by the FIM and FIA… Plans to bring MotoGP to Saudi Arabia follow the successful hosting of other major global motorsport series in the Kingdom over the past years, including the Formula 1 Saudi Grand Prix (since 2021), the Formula E Diriyah ePrix (since 2018), the world-famous Dakar Rally (since 2020) and the groundbreaking Extreme E series (since 2021).
HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal commented: “ we are delighted to confirm the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Dorna, which clearly highlights our common goal of bringing MotoGP to Saudi Arabia. It only makes sense to add the world's greatest motorcycle racing series to our growing list of world-class racing events. We look forward to working with Dorna to deliver on our shared commitment to bring the pinnacle of two-wheeled racing to Saudi Arabia and continue to offer more opportunities and initiatives to enrich the lives of all our residents."
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports added: “ As the world's leading two-wheeled circuit racing championship, we are excited about this opportunity for MotoGP to expand its reach within the Middle East by adding an annual Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia. The region is a key market for motorcycle sport and the Kingdom's demand for events of this type is increasing, studies showing that 80% of Saudi fans want to see more in their country. Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has demonstrated its ability to stage major global motorsport events to the highest standards. The signing of the MoU codifies our shared intention to further explore this opportunity. We are confident that we will find an exciting and welcoming new home in the Kingdom and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Saudi Motorsport Company to achieve this shared ambition together.."
