MotoGP to race in Saudi Arabia
After hosting rounds of the Formula 1 and Formula E World Championships, the Dakar Rally and the Extreme E electric racing series, Saudi Arabia is now intending to host a MotoGP round, following a recent agreement with series organisers Dorna Sports.
Known as a Memorandum of Understanding, the deal between Dorna and the Saudi Motorsport Company confirms the intention of both parties to bring MotoGP to Saudi Arabia, joining Qatar (which has hosted a round annually since 2004) as the second Middle East round.
The signing was conducted on 4 September by HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), and Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna.
In addition to a MotoGP round, the partnership between SMC and Dorna will see the establishment of a new talent development programme for young Saudi riders, in the vein of the various Talent Cup series around the world, aimed at increasing awareness of and accessibility to the sport in the Kingdom.
"It makes perfect sense to add the world’s greatest motorcycle racing series to our growing list of world-class racing events,” said HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal.
“We look forward to working with Dorna to deliver on our shared commitment to bring the pinnacle of two-wheeled racing to Saudi Arabia and to continue to provide more opportunities and initiatives to enrich the lives of all our residents."
With no dedicated race circuit currently in existence in Saudi Arabia (Formula 1 and Formula E race on street circuits), a track will need to be constructed, with plans to build a circuit that’s both FIM and FIA homologated to make it suitable for F1 and MotoGP.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, added: "As the leading global championship for two-wheel circuit racing, we are thrilled at this opportunity for MotoGP to expand its reach within the Middle East by adding an annual Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia.
“The region is a key market for motorsport and the demand in the Kingdom for events of this kind is growing, with research showing 80 per cent of Saudi fans want to see more in their country. In the past few years, Saudi Arabia has shown its ability to stage major global motorsports events to the highest standards.
“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding codifies our shared intention to explore this opportunity further. We are confident that we will find an exciting and welcoming new home in the Kingdom and we look forward to further collaboration with the Saudi Motorsport Company to deliver on this joint ambition together."
No timeframe has been given for the first Saudi Arabian Motorcycle Grand Prix, but it’s probably three to four years away at the earliest. Similarly, there was no word in September’s announcement on whether a circuit on the existing calendar will make way for the upcoming Saudi round, or whether the calendar would be expanded.
