After its first appearance in 2023, the Buddh circuit will return to the MotoGP calendar from 2025 until 2027. Despite the cancellation of this year's Indian round due to adverse weather conditions, a multi-year agreement has been signed to guarantee the staging of this already vital event.
MotoGP: Buddh back in the limelight
On the bangs of the British Grand Prix, the various parties involved reached an agreement to allow the Indian Grand Prix to feature on the MotoGP calendar for the next three years.
Invest UP, the government agency of Uttar Pradesh, played a crucial role in this negotiation. Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary and Commissioner, Infrastructure and Industrial Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh, welcomed the agreement, saying: "Hosting MotoGP in Uttar Pradesh not only elevates our state on the world sporting stage, it also catalyzes substantial economic growth in the tourism, hospitality and related sectors. The event will attract visitors from all over the world, highlighting Uttar Pradesh's prowess in staging world-class sporting extravaganzas."
India: a strategic market for MotoGP
The cancellation of this season's Indian Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of September 21, has raised many questions among fans and professionals alike. However, the passion for MotoGP in Asia continues unabated. During the inaugural edition at the Buddh circuit, over 100,000 fans attended the event, a figure that is set to grow in the years to come. Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous region, plays a key role in this craze.
More generally, two-wheelers account for almost 75% of vehicles used daily in India, making the country a key market for MotoGP.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports
We are delighted to announce this new agreement reached directly with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The inaugural Indian Grand Prix was a key success and brought enormous value to both MotoGP and our host region of UP, so it's fantastic that we're able to continue building this together in the future. India is an essential market for MotoGP, with a healthy and established racing audience that we know can grow exponentially. There are also hundreds of millions of two-wheeled vehicles in use across the country every day, making it vital for our manufacturers and for the sport itself thanks to MotoGP's position as the pinnacle of two-wheeling. We are very proud to be working directly with the Uttar Pradesh government to bring MotoGP back to India, as well as to UP and the Buddh International Circuit, for the next three seasons.
Although, unlike the Silverstone GP, no information has yet been released as to the date of next year's event, the return of MotoGP to the Buddh circuit from 2025 to 2027 instantly asserts itself as a major event. Not only for motor sports fans, but also for the economy of Uttar Pradesh. The collaboration between the local authorities and the MotoGP organizers promises to strengthen India's place on the international sporting stage and stimulate various local industries.
