MotoGP: Calendar set to expand again in upcoming years

MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has confirmed that the MotoGP calendar is set to expand in upcoming years, with a number of new rounds clamouring to join the ever-going series, potentially as soon as 2018.

At present, Finland’s new Kymiring already has a contract in place for next year –  but according to the Spaniard could be joined by a number of venues in South East Asia too.

“We are still talking with other circuits, and the Indonesian project is continuing and they’re working. We’re working as well with Thailand, with Burinam. Finland will most likely be 2019, because they can’t do much work at the minute, but we’re still talking to them. It’s up to them though – if they finish in time to be homologated for 2018, then they’ll join then.”

However, one track that is unlikely to make it to the series despite expressing interest of late is the iconic Belgian track of Spa, with a significant amount of required work all but ruling it out from making an appearance on the calendar.

“Spa have contacted us, last summer, but the main problem for us is the safety. It’s almost impossible for us to homologate the circuit for MotoGP. We’ve discussed a little for World Superbikes, and they’ve proposed to do some work there, but for sure there is no hope for MotoGP and we still need to talk more for Superbikes.”

The changes look set to boost the calendar to potentially as many as 20 races, a cause of potential concern for some teams in the paddock as they’re pushed to a race or test every two weeks for the entire year.