The 2021 MotoGP calendar looks set for another major reshuffle in the coming days, one that will mean it spends the rest of the season in Europe.
The series is preparing to replace its scheduled races in the USA and Malaysia – events that now seem increasingly unlikely to go ahead as both venues face fresh issues with COVID-19.
Those were the last remaining flyaways with the Japanese, Thai and Australian Grands Prix already lost.
Instead, contingency plans have been prepared for more European races to be added to the calendar to complete the season.
The Grand Prix of the Americas is the first of the scheduled races in danger, as host city Austin faces a fresh coronavirus crisis amid low take-up of vaccination in the area.
That in turn has led to a huge number of hospitalisations, putting significant pressure on their healthcare system.
In Malaysia, meanwhile, the number of daily cases has skyrocketed, jumping from 5000 per day in June to more than four times that number every day this week.
With Sepang International Circuit bosses adamant that the race cannot go ahead behind closed doors and with lockdown restrictions making anything else unlikely, it seems that the race will also be removed from the calendar in the coming days.
In place of the two cancelled races, two more European dates look set to be added to the calendar.
MotoGP’s trip to Misano will become a double-header, with Valentino Rossi fans getting a double opportunity to say goodbye to the nine-time world champion at what will be his last races in Italy.
Following that, MotoGP will make a second visit to Jerez, with the Andalucian circuit returning to the calendar between Misano’s two races and the scheduled end to the season at Portimao and Valencia.
That would mean the 2021 calendar remains at 18 races, two fewer than the originally-planned 20 but still within the all-important 17-race cut-off below which series promoter Dorna is believed to face financial repercussions in TV broadcast deals.
However, two additional European races could spell trouble for British riders and staff, many of whom are already approaching the maximum 180 days they are allowed to spend within the EU under new post-Brexit rules on travel.
Potential end of 2021 MotoGP calendar
August 15: Red Bull Ring
August 29: Silverstone
September 12: Aragon
September 16: Misano
September 23: Misano
tba October: Jerez
November 7: Portimao
November 14: Valencia
