FIM Grand Prix World Championship 2021 calendar Update September 11
The final calendar for the 2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship can now be confirmed. The 2021 season will comprise a total of 18 Grands Prix, with no more events to be added.
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports therefore regret to confirm the cancellation of the Gran Premio de la República Argentina due to force majeure. The event was previously postponed, but the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, logistical restrictions and prior infrastructure damage have obliged the cancellation. MotoGP looks forward to returning to Termas de Rio Hondo in April 2022 to greet the incredible fans who flock to the venue from across South America, with all parties working towards extending the collaboration for further years.
The name of the second Grand Prix at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, set to take place from the 22nd to the 24th of October 2021, can also be announced. The event will be the Emilia Romagna and Made in Italy Grand Prix, with helmet manufacturer and long-term partner of MotoGP, Nolan, taking top billing. The official name of the event is therefore the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia Romagna.
In addition, the dates of the first pre-season test for 2022 are now confirmed. The Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto will host a two-day Official Test for the MotoGP class on the 18th and 19th of November 2021. Official track action will then resume with the Sepang Shakedown Test from the 31st of January 2022, as previously announced.
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have announced a new date for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The event was previously postponed and will now take place from the 1st to the 3rd of October 2021.
The OR Grand Prix of Thailand will therefore take place a week later than previously scheduled, from the 15th to the 17th of October.
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have also confirmed the cancellation of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resulting travel complications and logistical restrictions mean that it has not been possible to confirm the event at this time meaning that it will therefore not feature on the 2021 calendar.
As of this update, June 23, the Phillip Island MotoGP is still scheduled to go ahead on the weekend of October 24.
2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar June 23 Update
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports recently announced the addition of a fifteenth Grand Prix to the 2020 FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar, with the event set to take place from the 20th to the 22nd of November and become the season finale.
The venue for the event has been revealed overnight as the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal. The reserve track for MotoGP since 2017, this brilliant circuit will now make its debut on the calendar.
I would hazard a guess that there are riders on the MotoGP grid that have never turned a lap at Portimao on any motorcycle, let alone a MotoGP bike, thus it could provide a very interesting dynamic for the season finale if the championship goes down to the wire this season.
The circuit is technical and very challenging but also truly spectacular and a real ‘riders’ track that as far as the riding experience goes has few equals in the world.
FIM President Jorge Viegas
“I am very proud that MotoGP will return to my country eight years after the last Grand Prix, which took place at the Circuito do Estoril in May 2012. I would like to warmly thank Dorna, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve and the Motorcycling Federation of Portugal for having managed to meet the necessary conditions for the organisation of the finale of the 2020 FIM Grand Prix World Championship to take place in Portugal.”
The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is truly unique, with its characteristic elevation changes and undulating layout earning it a reputation as a high-speed rollercoaster – a thrill ride for fans and competitors alike.
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve CEO Paulo Pinheiro
“It is a great achievement for our team to finally have MotoGP at our racetrack! MotoGP is the pinnacle of two-wheeled motorsport, and we are so excited to have it. It has been a long process with Dorna, we had an agreement in place since 2017, and finally all the hard work paid off. On top of this to have Miguel Oliveira on the MotoGP grid, being able to fight for the podium will be an amazing add on for this race, and hopefully the Championship will be decided here. We are working to have the fans in our race, and we will start with a capacity of 30,000 fans for the race weekend and then we will decide with Dorna and the sanitary authorities the following stages. We can’t express how happy we are to have this race.”
Miguel Oliveira will get to race in front of his home crowd at the 2020 MotoGP season finale
The track will now welcome MotoGP back to Portugal for the first time since 2012, and the event will see Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) racing on home turf in the premier class for the first time.
Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta
“It’s big news for us, we signed an agreement in 2017 with Portimao to be the reserve circuit for any kinds of cancellations, and we’ve been in contact with them all this time. We’ve been to Portimão with Superbike and we think it’s an amazing possibility for us, and also in the agreement is that the track will be resurfaced after the Superbike round. When we explained this to the riders they were excited because they’ve seen the track on TV, but we’ve never been there. Portugal has a long history in our sport and there have been some historic battles in Estoril. It’s something very good for us to have the possibility to go back to Portugal, especially with Miguel Oliveira participating as it’s great to have a Portuguese rider able to compete in his own country. We are extremely happy to be racing in Portimão at the end of the year.”
