Rio GP out - Turkey in

MotoGP will get another brand new track to add to its calendar for 2005 with the still to be completed Istanbul Autodrome securing a race for Turkey at the end of October.

The surprise move came when negotiations fell through to hold the troubled Rio GP. Dorna left Rio without a contract signed and today’s announcement sees a reshuffle of the calendar to allow the Turkish track to be brought in as a replacement.

The track is designed by Hermann Tilke, the same man responsible for Sepang, and Shanghai, which is also new to the calendar this year, and will be completed in time to host a Formula 1 race there at the end of August.

The Estoril GP that was scheduled for October 30 has now been moved to the April 17 slot to directly replace Rio and the Istanbul GP will be held on October 23.

Click here to get more details on the new track. Or here to view a 3D video of the track.

Revised 2005 MotoGP calendar:

April 10 Spain Jerez de la Frontera

April 17 Portugal Estoril

May 1 China Shanghai

May 15 France Le Mans

June 5 Italy Mugello

June 12 Catalunya Catalunya

June 25 Netherlands Assen

July 10 United States Laguna Seca

July 24 Great Britain Donington Park

July 31 Germany Sachsenring

August 28 Czech Rep Brno

September 18 Japan Motegi

September 25 Malaysia Sepang

October 1 Qatar Doha/Losail

October 16 Australia Phillip Island

October 23 Turkey Istanbul

November 6 Valencia Ricardo Tormo