The highly anticipated India round of the MotoGP championship, initially slated for September 20-22 this year, has been rescheduled to March 2025, announced by local promoters of the race to PTI on Tuesday.
Following reports of unsettled dues between the race promoters and rights holders Dorna after last year’s inaugural round, speculation arose regarding the fate of the second edition. However, after a comprehensive meeting involving all stakeholders, including Dorna, co-promoters Fairstreet Sports, and the Uttar Pradesh government, a decision was reached to shift the event to a yet-to-be-determined date in March.
Fairstreet Sports CEO Pushkar Nath Srivastava affirmed, “It was mutually decided to shift the race to March next year. We are looking at the first or second week of March. All the stakeholders, including Dorna, agreed that the September weather is not conducive for the race and is tough on the riders and marshals, as experienced last year.”
When questioned about the postponement’s relation to unpaid dues, Srivastava emphatically denied any connection, stating, “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.”
Anticipating a larger turnout, Srivastava added, “We also expect more fans to turn up in March as the weather will be better.”
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The current MotoGP season commenced in Doha on March 10, leaving organisers with the option to slot the India round in the following week.
Prior to 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 elevated its role to co-promoter, raising prospects for the event’s long-term sustainability.
The 2023 MotoGP round in India, clinched by Marco Bezzecchi, marked the country’s most significant motorsports event since the last Formula 1 race in 2013. Hindered by financial and taxation hurdles, Formula 1’s tenure in India lasted only three years.
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