MotoGP Bharat Pushed Back Till 2026, Organizers Blame ‘Operational Circumstances’ for Setback

The arrival of MotoGP in India was a huge positive for the country to be recognized as a top destination for global sports events. BharatGP, which took place in 2023, drew a lot of attention to India's iconic Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. But After F1's exit, MotoGP chose to arrive in India. After the success in 2023, the BharatGP was added to the sports league's 2024 calendar, but it did not take place. As it turns out, the race event has been pushed even further after the initial postponement.

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MotoGP Bharat Pushed Back Yet Again! Race Event to Not Happen in 2025

The MotoGP has announced that the second edition of the Bharat GP will not take place in 2025, and the dates have been pushed to the early stages of the year 2026. The race event at Greater Noida's Buddh International Circuit has been moved as a reserve event for the next year, and 2026 could mark the return of the Motorsports event in the country. The sports league has cited operational issues as the sole reason for the pushback.

"The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports confirm that the Indian Grand Prix will be included on the 2026 FIM MotoGP calendar, moving to become a reserve event for 2025.

"Operational circumstances have obliged the event to be delayed from its initial slot near the start of the 2025 calendar. With no available dates towards the end of the season, MotoGP will therefore return to India in the early stages of 2026," MotoGP said in a statement.

The statement further mentioned that InvestUP and MotoGp are working to make the sporting event at the Buddh Circuit world-class and also help make India a suitable destination for global sporting events.

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Rights holders Dorna, the Uttar Pradesh government and co-promoters Fairstreet Sports were the stakeholders when the race was moved to March 2025, but in July this year, Dorna signed a new contract with InvestUP, the Uttar Pradesh government's agency, to have the Indian GP on the calendar for three years from 2025 to 2027.

The MotoGP Bharat was the biggest event to be held at the Buddh International Circuit after F1, as the Indian GP took place just three times before it was moved out of the calendar due to taxation and financial issues. In 2023, more than 50,000 spectators attended the Buddh International Circuit's first MotoGP race. Motorsports has a large fanbase in India, and it was evident during the MotoGP Bharat week.

[With PTI Inputs]