MotoGP likely to come to India in 2023, big boost for motor racing in country

New Delhi: MotoGP, the premier class motorcycle racing, could come to India in the winter of 2023 if things go as planned. This will provide a big boost to the stagnant motorsport scene in the country. The master agreement between Dorna, the MotoGP commercial rights owner and Noida-based race promoters Fairstreet Sports could be signed next week.

Dorna MD Carlos Ezpeleta and CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta will be in Delhi on September 21 and are expected to make an official announcement regarding the ‘Grand Prix of Bharat’. Fairstreet Sports COO Pushkar Nath told PTI that they have done their homework to organise the high-profile race, taking into consideration what went wrong with Formula 1 nine years ago. He added that India is the largest two-wheeler market in the world and MotoGP is one of the most watched sporting events.

The event is most likely to be held at the Buddh International Circuit, where once the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix was held. The circuit got discontinued due to financial and bureaucratic hurdles, but now may come back to life for motor-race lovers in India.

Pushkar Nath also compared the event to hosting Commonwealth Games as around 5000 people would be involved in it. He also thanked the state and the central governments for their support. Fairstreet Sports will most likely be paying millions of dollars to Dorna for the race every year. The model was not sustainable for the Jaypee Group when it hosted Formula 1 but Nath is confident that his company has factored in the huge costs involved.

India has hosted Asian Road Racing Championship and MotoGP will be a great leap for the nation. The all-electric Formula E race will also be held in Hyderabad next February.