India to feature in MotoGP’s 2023 season with race at Buddh International Circuit

The 5.14-km Buddh International Circuit, on the outskirts of New Delhi, held Formula One races between 2011-13 before it was dropped from the calendar.

Suzuki Moto GP rider Aleix Espargaro take a curve followed by Yamaha Moto GP rider Loris Baz of France during the qualifying session of the Catalunya Grand Prix at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, in Montmelo near Barcelona, Spain, 13 June 2015 | Reuters File Photo

India will stage a MotoGP race at the Buddh International Circuit in New Delhi from 2023, organisers said on Friday.

Commercial rights holders Dorna Sports said earlier this month that they were in talks with the state government of Uttar Pradesh and India’s sports ministry.

“We have a lot of fans in India and we’re excited to be able to bring the sport to them,” Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta said in a statement.

“India is also a key market for the motorcycle industry and therefore, by extension, for MotoGP as the pinnacle of the two-wheeled world.”

The 5.14km track on the outskirts of New Delhi held Formula One races between 2011-13 before it was dropped from the calendar.

The announcement comes after MotoGP earlier this week said it had agreed a five-year deal to stage races at the Sokol International Racetrack in Kazakhstan from 2023.

MotoGP’s 2023 season will begin with a race at Portugal’s Algarve International Circuit in Portimao from March 24-26. -Reuters