An updated 2021 MotoGP calendar has been issued by the FIM, IRTA and promoter Dorna on Friday, revealing the United States and Argentina events will be delayed until the end of the year.
With the Covid-19 pandemic still making things tricky as regards to holding and running sports events, the decision has been made to delay MotoGP’s two North American races-a region still struggling to keep the spread of the virus under control-until the final quarter of ’21, though no replacement date for either round has been given.
A second round will be held in Qatar just a week after the opening round of the year at the Losail International Circuit on April 4th, while grand prix motorcycle racing will then head back to the site of last season’s finale-the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal-for the third round of the year on April 18th before moving to Jerez in early May as previously planned, leaving the planned schedule at 20 races.
No further changes have been issued currently, though more causalities could well be seen depending on how the ever-changing Covid-19 situation will evolve in the coming months.
The upcoming Indonesian round of the series-a street circuit in Mandalika that is still currently under construction- remains on the calendar as a reserve subject to homologation and could well make its MotoGP bow this year if cleared by the FIM, although this could depend on another round being either postponed or cancelled.
