LONDON: Qatar’s iconic International Losail Circuit will open the 2013 MotoGP season, it was announced yesterday.
Motorcycling’s governing body (FIM) published a provisional 19-race calendar, one more than last year, with races pencilled in for the Jerez, Barcelona, Valencia and Motorland Aragon circuits.
The Qatar race will be on March 31, which is the only meeting in the calendar to be held at night.
Spain will again host four rounds of an expanded MotoGP world championship next year despite the economic crisis gripping the country.
Jerez’s race is subject to contract, however.
Portugal, which held a grand prix in Estoril in May, did not feature on the calendar
The opener will be a week earlier than this year.
Argentina and a new circuit in Austin, Texas, could fill the unconfirmed slots while India’s new Buddh Formula One circuit has also been mooted as a possibility.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone moves from June to September 1.
Italy will have two races, one of them the San Marino Grand Prix at the Marco Simoncelli Misano Circuit recently renamed after the grand prix rider who was killed in a crash in Malaysia last year. The season will end at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit on November 10.
Valencia also hosted a Formula One race this year, in the port area of the Mediterranean city, but is due to be absent from next year’s F1 calendar.
Cash-strapped local administrations in Spain are under pressure to make budget cuts as part of a central government austerity drive. Spanish-based promoters Dorna hold the commercial rights to MotoGP and the sport is hugely popular. REUTERS
