Jerez back on MotoGP winter testing schedule

Jerez will be back on the winter testing schedule in 2012, while the night test session leading up to the first race of the season in Qatar has been axed from the pre-season programme.

The MotoGP grid will get nine days of testing on new 1000cc machinery prior to the opening round of the 2012 campaign in Qatar on April 15, with two visits to the Sepang circuit on the schedule.

Official winter testing will kick off at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia on January 31, before the paddock returns to the Far East for the second three-day session on February 28.

The pre-season schedule will finish in Jerez with a three-day test that runs between March 23 and 25.

Despite talks between MotoGP teams and race bosses, there is no return to the pre-season programme for the Phillip Island circuit in Australia. And the traditional two-night test session at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar has been dropped, with the test little more than an extended practice for the opening round.

There are also nine days of official testing for the Moto2 class and the new Moto3 world championship, which replaces the current 125GP two-stroke format next season.

Moto3 is for 250cc four-stroke single-cylinder machinery and both classes will have a maximum of 32 entries.

Official winter testing dates

MotoGP
January 31 to February 2 – Sepang
February 28 to March 1 – Sepang
March 23 to 25 – Jerez

Moto2 and Moto3
February 8 to 10 – Valencia
February 16 to 18 – Jerez
March 19 to 21 – Jerez