MotoGP in INDIA – Grand Prix of Bharat: It’s official, Buddha International Circuit will be back on the international limelight once again. The world championship of TWO-WHEELER racing MotoGP will make its debut in 2023 and will be called ‘Grand Bharat Prix’. The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) along with Commercial Partners Dorna Sports made the official announcement today: Follow MotoGP LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
After hosting Formula 1, Buddh Circuit hasn’t hosted a premier race. The last Formula 1 race India GP was back in 2013 with Sebastian Vettel winning the race.
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“We’re very proud to announce that Buddh International Circuit will be on the 2023 calendar. We have a lot of fans in India and we’re excited to be able to bring the sport to them. India is also a key market for the motorcycle industry and therefore, by extension, for MotoGP as the pinnacle of the two-wheeled world. We very much look forward to racing at Buddh International Circuit and can’t wait to welcome the fans through the gates to see this incredible sport in person,” Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta said.
BREAKING: India calls in 2023! 🇮🇳
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 30, 2022
We’re heading to the Buddh International Circuit next season! 🙌#IndianGP 🇮🇳 | 📰https://t.co/x5QeEdQDZu
Grand Prix of Bharat: While talks have been on to get MotoGP to India for the past decade or so. The event is finally hitting the ground now. The world’s biggest AUTOMOBILE companies – Yamaha, Honda, Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia participates in the RACE.
The races are likely to be held on the Formula 1 track at Greater Noida which also had the privilege to host the F1 races from 2011 to 2013. Details about the event would be formally announced today by Carlos Ezpeleta, MD of Dorna and Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of the company.
Dorna is the worldwide owner of the commercial rights for MotoGP.
The races now will have Noida-based race promoters Fairstreet Sports (FSS) in mix. The master agreement between MotoGP commercial rights owner Dorna and Fairstreet Sports has already been signed. The FIM homologation of the track will be done now.
“We have taken all the precautionary steps for the India round. We ave taken all the steps to ensure we can race in India for a long period. We are looking at a winter round for India next year.” Akbar Ebrahim, president of Indian motorsports federation FMSCI, welcomed the development.
“I had mentioned in our AGM recently that talks were on between both the parties and we have been kept in the loop. I have also had a meeting with the race promoters. They know what they are doing and what is needed to pull off an event of this scale.” said Ebrahim.
Around 5000 people work on a MotoGP weekend which incudes races in junior classes Moto 2 and Moto 3. The race will not only put Uttar Pradesh on the global map but is also expected to boost tourism.
Nath said the race is not possible without the support of government and he is thankful to both the state and centre for their help.
“It is like hosting the Commonwealth Games with 5000 people working on the race itself. The BJP government both at state and centre have been really helpful.
“They also want to boost tourism in India. People will be coming from Europe and other parts of the world and it would be shown live in 200 countries,” said Nath.
Fairstreet Sports will be paying millions of dollars to Dorna for the race every year. It wasn’t sustainable for the Jaypee Group when it hosted Formula 1 but Nath said his company has factored in the huge costs involved.
“Not just readying the race track, the biggest challenge will be to create the infrastructure for the race,” he said.
Besides taxation, custom clearance emerged as a big issue during the Formula 1 days. The concerned stakeholders can’t afford to go wrong on this front again.
Former FMSCI president Vicky Chandhok, who was at the helm when Formula 1 came to India, said seamless entry of the equipment is a must for the success of the event.
“The arrival of the equipment has to be seamless. If that happens, the word will spread that India has changed and it has become feasible to organise races here, then it could also lead to return of Formula 1. It is a massive market at the end of the day. NASCAR too may come in.
“We have already hosted the Asian Road Racing Championship in the past. So MotoGP has to be the next step,” he added.
The all-electric Formula E race is also coming to Hyderabad next February and if MotoGP can go ahead as planned, Indian motorsport will finally get what it’s desperately waiting for.
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