The Qatar Grand Prix will remain a fixture on the MotoGP calendar through to 2031, after the Losail Circuit and Dorna agreed a new five-year deal.
The Losail Circuit in Qatar represented the first MotoGP event to take place in the Middle East when it joined the calendar in 2004, and has been the season-opening races since 2007.
In 2008, Qatar and MotoGP made history by hosting the very first grand prix to be held at night. The event has been run under floodlights ever since.
A 10-year extension was agreed back in 2015, which secured the event through to 2026. This latest five-year extension ensures Qatar will host at least another 12 races, and is the first race to be confirmed beyond the next decade.
The current calendar stands at 19 races, but is set to increase to 20 next year with the return of the Finnish Grand Prix at the under-construction KymiRing.
Last month, Dorna announced it has agreed a deal to bring MotoGP and its sister World Superbike series to Indonesia from 2021 at a purpose-built street circuit on Lombok.
Previously, riders had expressed concern at the calendar extending past 20 races, with Dorna's current deal with the teams for a maximum of 20 races per season.
It is thought one of the four Spanish events which currently occupy the calendar would be cut to accommodate the Indonesia Grand Prix.
Discussion about this post