NEW DELHI: Formula 1 may've quit India, but MotoGP - the world's premier motorcycling championship - is set to scorch the tracks in the country as 'Grand Bharat Prix'.
A treat for enthusiasts, the top two-wheeler racing event - which has seen bikes race to top speeds of even beyond 250 kmph -is likely to debut in India in 2023 (some feel it may get delayed till 2024 due to operational and logistical challenges), marking the entry of one of the world's most high-profile racing events here.
While talks have been on to get MotoGP to India for the past decade or so, the event is finally hitting the ground now, indicating the growing interest of enthusiasts in the racing circuit and also amongst the organisers and companies such as Yamaha, Honda, Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia.
Interestingly, the races are likely to be held on the Formula 1 track at Greater Noida which also had the privilege to host the F1 races from 2011 to 2013, though it could not continue further due to a tax dispute of the organisers with the UP government and other legal and regulatory hurdles. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) will carry out inspection and homologation of the tracks to ensure suitability for a MotoGP event.
Details about the event would be formally announced on Wednesday by Carlos Ezpeleta, MD of Dorna and Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of the company. Dorna is the worldwide owner of the commercial rights for MotoGP.
The races now will have Noida-based race promoters Fairstreet Sports (FSS) in fray.
