A provisional 2021 MotoGP calendar has been released, with a schedule that for now largely mirrors the originally-planned 2020 one that was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The championship will start in Qatar on March 28, and will conclude at Valencia on November 14 after 20 rounds.
The only real surprise is that the Czech Grand Prix does not yet have a space on the schedule – but with one round still to be confirmed ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix in August and with rumours of a deal agreed with the Brno track that would keep it on the calendar, that seems more like a contractual technicality.
MotoGP will finally head to Finland for the first time since 1981 as well, with the new KymiRing track returning to the calendar after electing not to host its inaugural race with empty grandstands in 2020.
The two Americas rounds will return to a back-to-back schedule early in the year, with only seven days separating races in Argentina and Texas, while the end-of-season flyaway trip will be reshuffled as well.
Thailand returns to its traditional October date instead of 2020’s planned April slot, and the Japanese Grand Prix will move to earlier in October to miss the worst of Motegi’s rain.
That in turn splits the traditional end-of-season trio of races into two blocks of two, with Australia and Malaysia following after a one-week break.
Indonesia will not yet join the calendar as planned, with the new Mandalika circuit instead securing only a provisional slot. With the track still under construction and held up by land clearance issues that have triggered regional protests, it’s perhaps not a huge surprise it’s not ready for racing.
It’ll be joined by the 2020 season finale circuit Algarve on a list of reserves that also includes a wildcard appearance in the form of Russia’s Igora Drive track. Designed by Hermann Tilke and completed last year, the circuit near St Petersburg was due to host DTM this year until the COVID pandemic.
Provisional 2021 calendar
28 March Qatar – Losail
11 April Argentina – Termas de Rio Hondo
18 April Americas – Austin
2 May – Spain – Jerez
16 May France – Le Mans
30 May Italy – Mugello
6 June Catalunya – Barcelona
20 June Germany – Sachsenring
27 June Netherlands – Assen
11 July Finland – KymiRing
TBD To be decided
15 August Austria – Red Bull Ring
29 August Great Britain – Silverstone
12 September Aragon
19 September San Marino – Misano
3 October Japan – Motegi
10 October Thailand – Chang International
24 October Australia – Phillip Island
31 October Malaysia – Sepang
14 November Valencia
Reserves: Portugal (Algarve), Russia (Igora Drive), Indonesia (Mandalika)
