MotoGP

22 Races For MotoGP In 2024 - Kazahstan Back On, Hungary On Reserve List, 4 Races In Spain

By David Emmett | Wed, 27/09/2023 - 09:17

The 2024 MotoGP calendar is back up to the agreed maximum of 22 races. Kazakhstan is back on the calendar for next year, and all four Spanish circuits are on the calendar alongside Portimão. After the successful Indian round of MotoGP, Buddh International Circuit stays on the calendar. But apart from that, the calendar is pretty conventional.

The season kicks off in Qatar on March 10th, a date that was published earlier. Two weeks later, the MotoGP circus makes a quick stop off in Portimão before heading to the Americas, with Argentina happening on April 7th, and Austin a week later.

After a two-week break, MotoGP resumes its usual European round, going from Jerez to Le Mans to Barcelona and then Mugello. Kazakhstan fits in between Mugello and Assen, with a weekend off either side of the track situated north west of Almaty. Then Assen in its traditional slot of the last weekend in June, and the Sachsenring a week later.

India MotoGP Sunday Subscriber Notes: A Championship Reopened, How Martin's Leathers Opened, And Why Honda And Yamaha Were Fast

By David Emmett | Sun, 24/09/2023 - 23:07

As the most populous nation in the world, and one that is absolutely mad for motorcycles, India deserved a motorcycling grand prix. And as a successful economy, it had the capacity to organize one. On Sunday, it got a proper MotoGP spectacle. The racing for the win in all three categories wasn't particularly exciting – three races, three runaway victories – but there was spectacle and sensation up and down the field. Surprises, and championships blown wide open. What more could you want?

Initial fears of disaster proved to be overblown. The track was as safe as most European tracks, with some room for improvement. The asphalt could do with being repaved, but the same is true for half a dozen circuits on the calendar. The facilities were generally outstanding, the crowds were decent for a first race with little promotion (making it happen mattered more than packing the grandstands to the rafters) and incredibly passionate. The standard of marshalling left something to be desired, though it was not outright dangerous, just not up to world championship standard.

India MotoGP Saturday Subscriber Notes: The Dangers Of Holeshot Devices, New Track Pitfalls, And Marc Marquez' Future

By David Emmett | Sat, 23/09/2023 - 23:46

The proof of any pudding is in the eating. And the proof of any MotoGP event is when the rubber hits the road for real: when the racing starts. The Grand Prix of India has been through a real rollercoaster in the past few months, from doubts that the circuit would be ready a few months ago, to worries that the track wasn't safe enough a couple of weeks ago, to the circuit being embraced by the riders yesterday after they finally got a taste of the Buddh International Circuit on a MotoGP bike.

But practice is practice, and only racing is for real, and the first ever grand prix motorcycle race to be held at BIC exposed a few weaknesses in the circuit's preparation. And it once again exposed the rather worrying state of MotoGP in 2023. There was a long delay due to the rain, the sprint race starting at 5pm, 90 minutes after the originally scheduled start. And there was yet another first-corner pile up, with another rider forced to miss Sunday's race due to injuries sustained in the crash.

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