MotoGP, the highest level of two-wheeled racing, is highly likely to make its debut in India if all the planning goes well. This will be a major boost to the stagnant motorsport scenario in India, which last ignited between 2011 and 2013 when the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix was held for 3 consecutive years but came to a stop due to problems relating to tax, finance, and bureaucracy.
The master agreement between MotoGP commercial rights owner Dorna and Fairstreet Sports race promoters, based in Noida, could be signed within the next week itself.
MotoGP coming to India
Carlos Ezpeleta, Managing Director of Dorna, and Carmelo Ezpeleta, Chief Executive Officer of Dorna will arrive in the national capital on Wednesday and are expected to give out an official statement on the ‘Grand Prix of Bharat’.
If the agreement is signed between rights owners and race promoters, only then the FIM homologation of the track will be carried out.
Pushkar Nath, COO of Fairstreet Sports said that the homework for the high-profile race organization has been done well, most importantly taking into consideration the mishaps with Formula 1 almost a decade ago. He also pointed out that India is the largest two-wheeler market in the world and everyone is connected to them, also saying that it has aspirational value, which will aid MotoGP viewership as it already is one of the most watched sporting events.
The President of the Indian Motorsports Federation FMSCI, Akbar Ebrahim, said that all the precautionary steps for racing in India have been taken, and they are targeting a winter racing round in India, which will be held at Buddh International Circuit in Noida, also home to the three Formula 1 Grand Prix held in India.
Preparation of the track, help from both state and central governments and ensuring all measures to make it a reality are in play. If successful, it will boost tourism as people from around the world come to watch MotoGP, and the race will be broadcast in over 200 countries around the world.
