NEW DELHI: The India round of the MotoGP championship, originally scheduled for September, has been postponed to March 2025, local race promoters told PTI on Tuesday.
Uncertainty arose over the event's second edition, slated for September 20-22, amid reports suggesting that race promoters had outstanding dues with rights holders Dorna following last year's inaugural round.
Following a meeting on Tuesday involving all stakeholders, including Dorna, co-promoters Fairstreet Sports, and the Uttar Pradesh government, it was decided to reschedule the round to a date yet to be determined in March.
"It was mutually decided to shift the race to March next year. We are looking at first or second week of March. All the stakeholders including Dorna agreed that the September weather is not conducive for the race and it is tough on the riders and marshals as experienced last year," Fairstreet Sports CEO Pushkar Nath Srivastava told PTI.
When asked if the postponement of the race had anything to do with unpaid dues, Srivastava responded with a clear "no".
"All payments were being made in between and whatever is left will be paid by next month. So that was not really a factor in shifting the race to next year. We also thought of doing it in November but that would have meant four back-to-back races which would have been tough on the teams and the riders," said Srivastava.
During the inaugural race at the Buddh International Circuit, more than 50,000 fans flocked to the venue, although this number was just enough to occupy half of the facility's capacity.
"We also expect more fans to turn up in March as the weather will be better," said Srivastava.
The current MotoGP season commenced in Doha on March 10, and organizers have the flexibility to slot the India round in the following week.
In anticipation of the 2023 edition, Dorna and local promoters inked a seven-year agreement to host the race in India. The Uttar Pradesh government, previously a sponsor, has now transitioned into a co-promoter role, fostering optimism for the event's long-term future.
The 2023 MotoGP round in India, which saw Marco Bezzecchi emerge victorious, marked the most significant motorsports event in the country since the last Formula 1 race in 2013. Formula 1's tenure in India was brief, lasting only three years due to financial and taxation issues.
(With PTI inputs)
