New Delhi: The Indian Grand Prix – Indian round of MotoGP Championship which was scheduled to take place in March next year has been postponed to 2026. MotoGP made the announcement on Wednesday after releasing the official calendar for the 2024-25 season which consists of a total 20 Grand Prix across the globe.
The MotoGP Indian Grand Prix was delayed for a second time as the race was initially scheduled to take place in September this year. It was later deferred to March 2025 by the organisers owing to better weather conditions. However, now the race will not return to India before the early stages of 2026.
After the success of the inaugural MotoGP India Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida last year, Dorna, the rights holders for the race in India, had signed a contract with InvestUP – Uttar Pradesh government’s agency in July this year to conduct India GP for the next three seasons from 2025 to 2027. The first race as per the contract was scheduled for March next year.
Why MotoGP has delayed return to India?
MotoGP cited ‘operational circumstances’ as the reason behind their decision to postpone the race from the initial schedule in March next year while confirming that it will return in 2026. The organisers also stated there were no available dates towards the end of the season to stage the race later next year.
“Operational circumstances have obliged the event to be delayed from its initial slot near the start of the 2025 calendar. With no available dates towards the end of the season, MotoGP will therefore return to India in the early stages of 2026,’ MotoGP said in a statement.
However, the organisers didn’t provide details of the ‘operational circumstances’ that led to the postponement of the India Grand Prix for another year. The MotoGP is set to be a reserve event now for the 2025-26 season. The inaugural edition of MotoGP Indian Grand Prix which was attended by over 50,000 fans, was won by Marco Bezzecchi of Italy.
The inaugural MotoGP in India last year was the first major motorsports event in the country since the Formula One race that took place at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida in 2013. Formula One exited India three years ago due to financial and tax issues. Formula One conducted two races in India in 2012 and 2013 before leaving.
There will be no Indian Grand Prix next year as the MotoGP postponed the race to 2026 on Wednesday. The race was earlier delayed from September this year to March, 2025. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
