MotoGP has postponed the return of the Indian Grand Prix on the calendar until 2026 due to what it has described as ‘operational circumstances’.
As revealed by Autosport on Tuesday, MotoGP will not visit India next year, with the race at the Buddh International Circuit now moved to ‘reserve event’ status for 2025.
It is understood that the local authorities have failed to find the financial support needed to organise the race, which was due to be held in March next year.
In its official statement, MotoGP promoter Dorna only stated that “Operational circumstances have obliged the event to be delayed from its initial slot near the start of the 2025 calendar.
It added that “With no available dates towards the end of the season, MotoGP™ will therefore return to India in the early stages of 2026.”
It was only last month that MotoGP had signed a fresh three-year contract directly with the state government of Uttar Pradesh to bring the championship back to the country after its planned 2024 event was cancelled.
The new deal had sidelined previous promoter Fairstreet Sports, with Invest GP, the investment arm of the state subsequently issuing a tender to find a new organisation to help organise the race.
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
However, with MotoGP keen to sign off the 2025 schedule, it appears an agreement could not be reached on time to stage the planned race in March.
The inaugural Indian GP was held in September 2023 as part of MotoGP’s expansion into Asia which has seen the championship also visit new races in Thailand and Indonesia.
The race in India took place at a slightly modified version of the circuit, located outside of capital Delhi, that also hosted three Formula 1 events between 2011-13.
Those three races were organised and promoted directly by circuit owner Jaypee Group, which has since run into deep financial issues, with many of its subsidaries in the midst of insolvency proceedings.
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It was earlier expected that the return of Hungary on the MotoGP calendar for the first time since 1992 would…
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